Challenges in meeting aspirations of project affected families while developing hydro power projects

World Bank considers Hydro power as a source of opportunity for poverty alleviation and sustainable development beyond its conventional role of electricity generation. Role of hydropower in poverty reduction in developing countries is also emphasized by World Bank’s water sector strategy. This paper presents insights of the problem related to management of stakeholders residing in the vicinity of under development Hydro Power Projects i.e. Project Affected Families (PAFs) including those whose land has not been acquired. Paper begins by exploring the expectations of PAFs from a project by introducing the concept of aspirations. That is followed by analyzing the ill effects of improper redressal of these aspirations. Afterwards, challenges faced by the project authorities while implementing the mechanisms for meeting the aspirations of PAFs have been discussed. Paper is concluded with the discussion regarding existing efforts taken at National as well as international level.

Aspirations in the context of present research will relate to the expectations of the Project Affected Families (PAF’s) from the development of Hydro Power Projects in the region.