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Ecosystem Services and Hydropower Development: Diverse voices forming localized opinions

This study examines the diverse perspectives of villagers affected by a hydropower project in the Karnali River basin in Nepal. It explores the impacts on agriculture, biodiversity, and socio-cultural uses, and discusses the need for a multi-scale assessment to mitigate irreversible ecosystem service losses. The study also raises questions about benefit-sharing and decision-making processes in hydropower development.

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Ecosystem Services and Hydropower Development: Diverse voices forming localized opinions

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  1. Ecosystem Services and Hydropower Development: Diverse voices forming localized opinions Emma Karki (IWMI, Nepal) Co-authors: Diana Suhardiman and Akriti Sharma 10th October 2018 ESP Asia Conference Dehradun, India

  2. Introduction

  3. Current Policies and Practices

  4. Methods • Part of the larger Digo Jal Bikas Project (Karnali and Mahakali) • In Depth Interviews with 24 national level stakeholders • In Depth Interviews with 5 UKCC members and 15 farmers in 8 affected villages along the Karnali • 260 social surveys conducted in the five districts in the Karnali Basin

  5. Context - Karnali River • Underdeveloped region • Several large hydropower and irrigation projects planned and under construction • Lack of coordination amongst relevant sectors • Foreign investment in hydropower projects • Diverse priorities – Hydropower/Tourism/ Agriculture/Biodiversity

  6. Current Ecosystem Services

  7. The Case of the Upper karnali • 900MW hydropower project, USD 1.15 billion • 426 households affected, 56 to be resettled • Developed by GMR – an Indian company • MoU singed in 2008 • PDA signed in 2014 • Plan to export electricity to Bangladesh • Current phase: Financial closure, land acquisition

  8. Benefit Sharing Questions regarding who benefits and how? Most importantly, who decides?

  9. Diverse Voices

  10. “I do not think that the planned hydropower project would benefit villagers. Even when we would get free access to electricity, this would not benefit us if it means we have to lose everything else related to our farming activities.” – Saura village “Our villages have never seen development; the government has not developed our area. Finally, we have some jobs coming and now the so-called experts want to stop that as well.” - Thalpatta village “The most important thing is that I can now use the money from the land compensation payment to invest in my son’s education to be land surveyor and works and earns money from the company later. Hence, I am willing to take the risk”. Sisne village “When the planned dam would force us to stop fishing, we do not know as to whether we would be able to make the needed transition in our livelihood options, as we lack the skills needed for that.” – Ramaghat village

  11. Assessment Framework for Ecosystem Services • Agriculture, hydropower, tourism, biodiversity and socio-cultural uses – many endangered and critically endangered species • In the midst of large scale hydropower and irrigation canal construction – Vulnerable state anticipating future scenario • Need to contextualise the framework since the upstream and downstream communities have different demands • Hydropower will benefit local to regional communities – at what cost? • Irrigation will impact the overall food security of the country • Requires a multiscale assessment to ensure development does not lead to irreversible ES loss, extinction of endangered species

  12. Ways Forward

  13. Relevant Links • Suhardiman D., Bastakoti R., Karki E., Bharati L. (2018). The politics of river basin planning and state transformation processes in Nepal. Geoforum, 96: 70-76. • Suhardiman, D., Karki, E., Bastakoti, R. Putting power and politics central in Nepal’s water governance. (forthcoming) • Suhardiman, D. and Karki, E. Spatial Politics and Local Alliances Shaping Nepal Hydropower (forthcoming) • Karki E., Suhardiman D., Drown P., Swingle C. (2018). The importance of local voices in Nepal’s hydropower projects. The Thirdpole, Wednesday, 8TH August, 2018. Available online at: https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2018/08/08/the-importance-of-local-voices-in-nepals-hypropower-projects/ • Sharma A., Claire S. (2018). Balancing people and energy in the Karnali Basin. The Thirdpole, 20TH August, 2018. Available online at: https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2018/08/20/balancing-people-and-power-in-the-karnali-basin/ • Dhaubanjar S., Drown P, Karki E. (2017). What’s a river worth? The Kathmandu Post, 15TH December, 2017. Available online at: http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/printedition/news/2017-12-15/whats-a-river-worth.html • Suhardiman D. (2017). River basin planning: An imaginary bureaucratic territory. Blog. Sustainable Water Future Programme (http://water-future.org/blog/river-basin-planning/). Thank you! Questions?

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