Environmental Studies (EVS)

project on

Positives and Negatives of Small and Big Dams

Bachelor of Management Studies

in
Department of Management Studies
Ramanujan College
University of Delhi
October 16, 2016

Submitted by:-
Kartik Jain
Roll No.- 16/ 2314
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher Ms. Tenzin

Thakur as well as our principal Dr. S.P. Aggarwal who gave me the golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic Positive and negatives of
small and big dams which also helped me in doing a lot of Research and I came to
know about so many new things I am really thankful to them.

Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in
finalizing this project within the limited time frame.
Introduction
Nearly 700 dams were built every ten years up to 1950s. This number grew rapidly after 1950s.
While the dams were built and completed it was observed that there was something missing and
detrimental. Although the effects of water on human life and the development of civilizations are
well-known all over the world, it is claimed that the economical benefits expected from the
projects designed to utilize water resources could not be gained and also necessary precautions to
decrease the environmental, economical and social losses were not taken. Even some studies
aiming to block these water supply projects of the developing countries are carried out by some
international organizations. Because of this, in the sustainable management of the water, taking
into account the economical, social and cultural development and the environmental impacts
which came out as a result of the mentioned studies, has gained an increasing importance.

Dams have one of the most important roles in utilizing water resources. They were constructed
long years before gaining present information about hydrology and hydromechanics. They are
not ordinary engineering buildings. Dam projects, which are useful in meeting the demand for
water in desired times and in regulating stream regimes, have undertaken an important function
in the development of civilization.

Dams have been constructed in order to prevent floods, to supply drinking and domestic water,
to generate energy and for irrigation purposes since the old-times.

Dams have a great deal of positive and negative effects on the environment besides their benefits
like controlling stream regimes, consequently preventing floods, obtaining domestic and
irrigation water from the stored water and generating energy. Dams hold possibilities of
considerable harm for living beings in addition to their advantages such as meeting basic
requirements of the society and increasing living standards.

Wherever the location of a dam is, its ecological results are the same. The environmental impacts
of dams can be classified according to different criterions as long term and short term impacts,
the impacts on the close area and the impacts on the regions where the dam services, social and
unsocial impacts, beneficial and harmful impacts. These effects may be ordered in an intensive
and complicated manner like climatic, hydraulic, biological, social, cultural, archaeological etc.
Definition of a Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not
only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human
consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability. Hydropower is often used in
conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be used to collect water or for
storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally serve the
primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees (also
known as dikes) are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions.

The word dam can be traced back to Middle English, and before that, from Middle Dutch, as
seen in the names of many old cities. The first known appearance of dam stems from 1165.
However, there is one village, Obdam, that is already mentioned in 1120. The names of more
than 40 places (with minor changes) from the Middle Dutch era (1150–1500 CE) such
as Amsterdam and Rotterdam, also bear testimony to the use of the word in Middle Dutch at that
time.

History of Dams
The first constructed dams were gravity dams, which are straight dam made of stone brick or
concrete that resists the water load by means of weight. Around 2950-2750 B.C, the ancient
Egyptians built the first known dam to exist. The dam was 37 ft tall, 348 ft wide at the crest and
265 ft at the bottom. The dam failed after a few years and it was concluded that overflow was the
cause of failure. The poor workmanship from a hasty construction lead to the failure.

The modern dams or the large dams gained popularity in the 18th and 19th century. Rivers were
the untapped resource for harnessing energy. Around 200 dams were built in Britain in the
19th century to provide water to its expanding cities. The dams built around the 1900s were
earthen embankments and were built on a trial and error basis. Many of the dams built during
this time in the world collapsed. 

Nagarjun Sagar Dam of Telangana (Modern Dam)

Classification of Dams
 According to the size of the dam
1. Large Dam- International Commision on Large Dams, (ICOLD) assumes a dam
as big when its height is bigger than 15m.
If the height of the dam is between 10m and 15m and matches the following
criteria, then ICOLD accepts the dam as big:
 If the crest length is bigger than 500m
 If the reservoir capacity is larger than 1 million m3
 If the flood discharge is more than 2000 m3/s
 If there are some difficulties in the construction of foundation
2. Small Dam- The dams which do not match the criteria of becoming a big dam as
given by the ICOLD are classified as small dams.
 According to the height of the dam
1. High Dam or Large Dam- If the height of the dam is more than 100m it is then
considered as a large dam.
2. Medium Dam- If the height of the dam is between 50m and 100m then it is
considered as a medium dam.
3. Low Dam or Small Dam- If the height of the dam is less than 50m then it is
considered as a small dam.
 According to Statical Design of Dam Body
1. Gravity Dams- In a gravity dam, the force that holds the dam in place against the
push from the water is Earth's gravity pulling down on the mass of the dam.
Gravity Dams use their triangular shape and the sheer weight of their rock and
concrete structure to hold back the water in the reservoir.
2. Arch Dams- In the arch dam, stability is obtained by a combination of arch and
gravity action. Arch Dams utilize the strength of an arch to displace the load of
water behind it onto the rock walls that it is built into.
3. Butress Dams- Buttress Dams use multiple reinforced columns to support a dam
that has a relatively thin structure. Because of this, these dams often use half as
much concrete as gravity dams
4. Embankment Dams- Embankment dams are made from compacted earth, and
have two main types, rock-fill and earth-fill dams. Embankment dams rely on
their weight to hold back the force of water, like gravity dams made from
concrete.
5. Composite Dams- Composite dams are combinations of one or more dam types.
Most often a large section of a dam will be either an embankment or gravity dam,
with the section responsible for power generation being a buttress or arch.
Small Dams vs Large Dams
When it comes to the classification of the dams, small dams and reservoirs can provide benefits
to the farmers with irrigation and other purposes and do not have any large implications on the
environment as well. Small dams serve the purpose of drinking water. Small dams are useful as
watershed management infrastructure to control soil erosion and stop silt flow. The capital cost
of small dam is very high with respect to its storage capacity, lifespan, and service value. A cost-
benefit analysis demonstrates that smaller dams appear to have a substantially more favorable
internal rate of return and benefit-cost ratio than large dams if considered in isolation, but this
benefit can be partially offset by considering large dams as part of a system of small dams. Small
on-farm earthen dams can reduce downstream peak flow and associated flooding in agricultural
watersheds, and can significantly reduce sediment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loadings to
streams.

On the contrary the large dams cause environmental problems that can be long lasting and cause
great harm to the ecosystem. In the past also people have protested against many such dams be it
the Narmada Dam of Gujarat or Hoover Dam of US, large dams have been in the controversy.
Dams, especially large ones, have the potential to cause a lot of problems for the surrounding
area, especially the area behind the dam where the water flows toward the blockage. There are
disadvantages for both the nature and any people living in the area. Many large dams, especially
in the humid regions, have not brought many benefits. Even where they have boosted agricultural
production, as in the arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas, the irrigational resources, in most
cases, have been cornered by the more powerful farmers to grow water-intensive, but high-value,
crops like rice and sugarcane leaving many poor farmers without water. In any case, large dams
mainly benefit farmers in the plains and not farmers in the hill and mountain regions, which
constitute a large part of land area where a number of poor farmers live. Although large dams
can have negative impacts on nearby cropland, in contrast to their positive effect downstream,
they triple the relatively small 43 productivity-enhancing effect of small dams. Nevertheless, the
overall impact of large dams is somewhat sensitive to available river flow.

Small hydropower dams can certainly be part of a sustainable hydropower system.  And so can
large hydropower dams. For both large and small, the key word is system: sustainable
hydropower requires planning, sitting, and operating dams within an overall system that seeks to
balance a range of resources and values.
Positives/Advantages of Dams
Dams provide a range of economic, environmental, and social benefits, including
recreation, flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, waste management, river
navigation, and wildlife habitat.

1. Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.

2. If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut, stopping electricity generation.
The water can be saved for use another time when electricity demand is high. 

3. Dams are designed to last many decades and so can contribute to the generation of
electricity for many years / decades. 

4. The lake that forms behind the dam can be used for water sports and leisure / pleasure
activities. Often large dams become tourist attractions in their own right. Dams provide
prime recreational facilities. Boating, skiing, camping, picnic areas, and boat launch
facilities are all supported by dams.
 
5. The lake's water can be used for irrigation purposes.  Thousands of jobs are tied to
producing crops grown with irrigated water.

6. The build up of water in the lake means that energy can be stored until needed, when
the water is released to produce electricity.

7. When in use, electricity produced by dam systems do not produce green house gases.
They do not pollute the atmosphere. Hydropower is considered clean because it does not
contribute to global warming, air pollution, acid rain, or ozone depletion.

8. In addition to helping farmers, dams help prevent the loss of life and property caused
by flooding. Flood control dams impound floodwaters and then either release them under
control to the river below the dam or store or divert the water for other uses. For
centuries, people have built dams to help control devastating floods.

Dams provide recreational facilities in the forms of boating, fishing, camping and picnic
areas. By providing flood control, dams help farmers and prevent deaths and property
damages caused by flooding. Dams provide water storage that can be used for industrial,
municipal and agricultural purposes. They help to irrigate cropland and provide jobs that
are tied to producing crops by using irrigated water. Dams produce hydropower that does
not cause air pollution, acid rain or global warming.
Negatives/Disadvantages of Dams
Advantages of building a dam are numerous, that is the reason so much money and work goes
into building and maintaining them. But one must always proceed with caution with everything
in nature that seems extremely advantageous there will be some or the other disadvantageous
related to it. Some of the disadvantages are:

 Dams tend to be extremely expensive to build and when a decision is taken to build one
anyway, it must adhere to a very high standard.

 And other point to be kept in mind is that since the cost is so high for dam construction, it
goes to mean that they must operate for many decades to become profitable enough.

 You must have heard of the rare flooding related to big dams. But this flooding of large
areas of land means that the natural environment is destroyed.

 Relocation is another big concern. People living in villages and towns that are in the
valley that could be flooded, must move out. Hence, they lose their farms and businesses.
In some countries, people are forcibly removed so that hydro-power plant constructions
can go ahead. This happens to be an ethical concern.

 The building of large dams can cause serious geological damage, for instance, the
building of the Hoover Dam in the USA triggered a number of earth quakes and has
depressed the earth’s surface at its location. This is an alarming matter.

 Although modern planning and design of dams has reduced the possibility of certain
disasters occurring.

Dams, especially large ones, have the potential to cause a lot of problems for the surrounding
area, especially the area behind the dam where the water flows toward the blockage. There
are disadvantages for both the nature and any people living in the area.

There are many negative effects on nature. Since dams block up flowing bodies of water,
such as rivers, any animals that depend on the flow to reproduce or as part of their life cycle
are put in danger. Migratory fish that mate in a different location than they live the rest of
their lives, for example, are unable to mate and may decline in population. The buildup of
water is also dangerous for plant life that grows on the natural shoreline of the water. The
plant life is submerged and dies. In addition, the beneficial sediment that normally is washed
down the river is blocked, which decreases the fertility of the soil downriver from the dam.

Many humans are displaced due to dams. Humans who live in an area that is to be flooded
due to a new dam have to relocate and lose their homes to the rising water.
Environmental effect of dams
EFFECTS OF DAMS ON THE ATMOSPHERIC SYSTEM

Working of Dams cause variations in moisture percentage, temperature and air body movements
of air caused by the big stationary water body differentiate climatic conditions related to regional
topography. In addition, regional scaled climatic changes can be observed. These alterations may
seem not very harmful for human health, but they are notable from many plants and animals.
Their secondary effects influence human being.

EFFECTS OF DAMS ON THE EARTH’S CRUST

Working of big dams can cause seismic effects i.e. can cause vibrations and movement of earth's
crust. It has been claimed that many of the earthquakes in the United States could have been
caused due to the Hoover Dam.

EFFECTS OF THE DAMS ON TERRITORIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Biological life of the river changes fast both in the reservoir and in downstream. The parts of the
ecosystem that are affected from the dam are the watered parts on the shore. During the filling
works of the dam, while the lands remain under water the land part of the region decreases.
However, the water-land boundary extends. Thus, plant, animal or human being settlement areas
change. Forests, agricultural areas may come under water. As the water level differentiates
periodically, some species begin to live under water from time to time, in the tide zone. This area
may turn to marshy land depending on the soil structure. Water-soil-nutrient relations, which
were settled after floods in the downstream of the dam, change in a long period of time.
Furthermore, compulsory changes occur in flora, fauna and the agricultural traditions of people
in the region. This effect can extend for kilometers.

EFFECTS OF DAMS ON AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

At the beginning, the decomposing organisms cause an increase in the nutrient substances in
water in a short period of time. A decomposition media is performed with the help of the
stationary layers along the reservoir depth. This results in a dark colored lake smelling badly.
Afterwards, an enormous increase in the amount of nutrients is observed.

Besides the plants covering the water surface as large green-dark colored bodies,
microorganisms grow up on water surface. These events can be harmful both for the live of the
lake, and also for the people fishing, taking a boat-trip and even for the dam gates and turbine
propellers. Sometimes, microorganisms created here acts like a source for disease vectors.
Separately, this increase in water plants cause more evaporation losses than it happens by
transpiration normally.
The dam is a real obstacle for the animals swimming from one end of the river to the other end.
The existence of the dam means death for the fish species spending certain parts of their life in
the spring or in the flood water and other parts in the crossection where the river joins sea. We
know that some sea fishes come to fresh water and swim up to the spring in order to lay eggs.
Later on, they return to sea with new young fishes. A dam that will be built on this way will
interrupt the life cycle of these creatures and cause deaths in a mass. It has seen that by-pass
flows are designed for this purpose.

EFFECTS OF DAMS ON HUMAN LIFE

Despite of the fact that the dams are an important target for development; they are not easily
acceptable for the people whose agricultural areas, houses and the environment they are living in
go under water. There are changes in the employment and production systems starting before the
construction of the dam including expropriation of the land, employment of construction workers
and the transport of construction material with the machines to the site. Unqualified workers are
employed from the site; however the technicians and experts come from other places.

Generally settlement areas, social buildings, hospitals, schools etc. are built for the people
coming from outside at the site. The more these facilities can be hold open for public usage the
more the dam becomes a kind of symbol for development. The new settlements improve by this
way and result in second ecological needs and changes. For example, drinking water, domestic
waste water, waste water treatment etc. Moreover, the social life becomes active, trade increases,
cultural activities rise. Important alterations are observed in the transportation system. The ways
lying under water and their surrounding area are important from this point of view. The new
roads that were constructed to prevent any break down in the transportation services result in
additional expenses and additional environmental costs.

Those displaced by reservoirs are only the most visible victims of large dams. Millions more
have lost land and homes to the canals, irrigation schemes, roads, power lines and industrial
developments that accompany dams. Many more have lost access to clean water, food sources
and other natural resources in the dammed area. Millions have suffered from the diseases that
dams and large irrigation projects in the tropics bring. Large dams have forced some 40-80
million people from their lands in the past six decades, according to the World Commission on
Dams. Indigenous, tribal, and peasant communities have been particularly hard hit. These legions
of dam refugees have, in the great majority of cases, been economically, culturally and
psychologically devastated.
A CASE STUDY- TEHRI DAM

Introduction:
Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi
River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India.

 Tehri is located 200 miles north east of Delhi, in the state of Uttaranchal. With a height of 260
meters (855 feet), the dam is the fifth tallest in the world and the tallest dam of India. The Tehri
Dam withholds a reservoir for irrigation, water supply and the generation of 1,000
megawatts(1,300,000 hp) of hydroelectricity. The construction of the dam started in 1978 and
phase 1was completed by 2006. The cofferdam was completed in1996. The construction cost
was $1 billion. Tehri Development Project also includes the 97 meter high Koteshwar Dam,
under construction14 miles downstream of Tehri Dam. The 400 MW Koteshwar Dam will either
completely or partially submerge 16 villages. It provides 270 million gallons of drinking water
per day to Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. It also gives stabilization to existing irrigation
on 600,000hectares land.

From its inception, Tehri dam has been opposed due to concerns over its environmental and
social impacts, and its ability to withstand earthquake damage. Tehri Dam officials have also
been implicated in several cases of corruption.

Environmental Impacts
The Tehri Dam has been the object of protests by environmental organizations and local people
of the region. The construction of the dam has resulted in destruction of houses of thousands of
people. The relocation of more than 100,000 people from the area has led to protracted legal
battles over resettlement rights, and ultimately resulted in the project's delayed completion.

Impacts on the surroundings due to the dam are-:

a. Change in the (i) water chemistry, especially with respect to dissolved oxygen and (ii)turbidity
of water.

b. Impact on biodiversity, i.e., flora and fauna of the area.

c. Obstruction of movements of migrating fish species during breeding season.

d. Rivers carry a lot of sediment, which on construction of a dam, will be locked up behind the
dam wall. The collected silt in the reservoir eats away the capacity of the reservoir. This impact
of reducing the capacity and life of reservoir was studied.
e. Impact of water accumulation on the upstream side of the dam, which causes inundation of
land including forest-land.

f. Since 109 villages (full or partial) and Tehri town (full) were affected and the residents were to
vacate their ancestral homes and agricultural fields, a scheme was prepared, to resettle these
people, with the idea to improve their living standard, keeping their social bonds intact.

g. Problem of water-logging and salinity of the land in the command area.

BENEFITS TO NEARBY REGION:-

1) Development of Hill Station-

For shifting of old Tehri Town a new modern town named as New Tehri Town (NTT) has been
developed at a height of 1550-1850 m. above MSL which is at height almost similar to that of
Mussorrie. This town has all modern facilities.

2) Better Road Network-

Due to construction of Project, roads of the area have been widened and improved which made
communication easier and comfortable. Rishikesh-Chamba-NTT roads have also been widened
and geometry have been improved which has resulted in reduction of journey time. .

3) Education-

For shifting of educational institutions of Old Tehri Town, larger buildings with modern facilities
were constructed so that more number of students can be accommodated, while having scope for
further expansion in future. In most of the educational institutions, Hostel facilities for 860
students have been provided, though it did not exist in Old Tehri. Thus, more students coming
from the nearby areas will be benefited as NTT is expected to develop as anodal center for
education in the region.

 4) Health-

Against 22 beds Hospital of Old Tehri, 75 beds Hospital have been constructed at New Tehri
Town, with modern medical facilities. In addition,5 numbers Primary Health Centers with indoor
treatment facilities (totaling to 70 beds) have been constructed at Project cost.

To provide hygienic conditions, treated water is supplied to houses and sewerage treatment plant
has been constructed with a properly designed network of sewer lines connecting houses and
other buildings of the town.

5) Electrification-

For improving electricity distribution system in nearby rural areas, 3 nos. 33KV sub-stations
have been constructed and network of LT/HT transmission lines have also been made at project
cost.

6) Drinking water facilities-

54 numbers drinking water schemes in rural areas and New Tehri town have been constructed
and made operational at Project cost. They shall now be operated and maintained by respective
agencies.
7) Shifting of District Head Quarter-

With the shifting of district head quarter from Narendra Nagar to New Tehri, a distance of about
60 km have been reduced for the urban and rural population of Tehri resulting into saving of
time and inconvenience to the public having work at district level offices.

8) Setting of New Industries-

The New Tehri Town is very suitable for setting up of Non-polluting Industries due to its better
climate and excellent communication facilities. As the power is now easily available after the
construction of dam, more factories are likely to come up as NTT has excellent infrastructure as
well.

9) Tourism-

The New Tehri Town is a pre-planned hill town with all modern facilities. Hence, it is expected
to develop as a major tourist hill station in near future. By creation of lake due to the
impoundment of the reservoir of Tehri Dam, scope for water sports will be there. Due to
wider and improved roads, communication has become easier which is very important for
development of tourism .Due to tourism development, Hotel Industry in the area will increase,
which will further help the local people in getting employment.

10)Commercial Centre-

New Tehri Town market is developing as a market for adjoining towns/villages in the region and
is expected to come up as a nodal commercial centre in the region because of its vocational
advantage and better infrastructure facilities like roads, telecommunication and properly
designed shopping centre
CONCLUSION
The dams are becoming the building blocks of the nation with providing many benefits required
for development purposes but at the same time they are causing a more long lasting impact on
the environment. Dams have one of the most important roles in utilizing water resources. They
were started to construct long years before gaining present information about hydrology and
hydromechanics. Dams have a great deal of positive and negative effects on the environment
besides their benefits like controlling stream regimes, consequently preventing floods, obtaining
domestic and irrigation water from the stored water and generating energy. Wherever the
location of a dam is, its ecological results are the same.

In addition to their very important social and environmental benefits, it is important to minimize
the negative effects of dams on the environment regarding sustainable development. The
mentioned effects and their solutions have taken into account in the environmental impact
assessment concept.

Often, the change or destruction of the previous system is deemed to be “beneficial”, and that
the money centric economic advantages to humans would outweight the loss of wildlife and
disturbance to indigenous peoples. But the monetary gains related to these dams can only be for
short term. We must understand the importance of ecological balance and try our best to run it
naturally in order to prevent the effects of environmental disasters and promote the existence of
healthy environment. It is the responsibility of human beings to preserve the nature for our future
generations and lead toward sustainable development.

Some alternatives could be fond through innovation. This innovation is necessary for alternatives
such as designing less water demand, encouraging solutions which are not structural in flood
control, finding better methods to process wastes and purification of waste water.

It is now our responsibility to lead our society towards sustainable development.

References
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/dam

www.blog.nature.org

www.fema.gov/benefits-dams

www.reference.com/environment

www.getrevising.co.uk/geography

www.byjus.com/benefits-of-dams

www.mjcetenvsci.blogspot.com

www.infobarrel.com/energy&power

www.directessays.com/40058.html

www.amrivers.org/damremoval/tenreasons.htm.

www.cda.ca/cda/main/newlets/fall00/faq.html.

www.revirrevival.org/brochure/rrpt2.html.