Assessment of rehabilitation risk associated with Hydropower Development: Inferences from Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro electric Project, Uttarakhand-india

Hydropower progress in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India is moving in its slowest pace. In spite of-having third highest identified potential in the country, large number of hydropower businesses are facing time and cost overruns as a result of public protest, litigations and court interventions. Dams cause displacement of people. Involuntary displacement carry potential rehabilitation risk which if not identified and addressed on time-have potential to cause human distress. To harness hydropower potential it is important to assess and address risk-associated with displacement. The paper identifies and ranks risk associated with involuntary displacement from-a study on Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP) in Uttarakhand. The potential risk are drawn-from Impoverished Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) model constructed by Michael Cernea. The model has been empirically validated in number of hydropower projects financed by The World Bank across the globe. The survey-results in the form of weighted mean scores from the project site reveal presence of risk like Loss of Common Property, Homelessness, Marginalization, Women Issues, Social Disarticulation and landlessness. Assessment of rehabilitation risk will aid policy makers develop a comprehensive rehabilitation mechanism envisioned to foster-hydropower development in India.