Three Gorges and Nu River Dams University of 三长江三峡和怒江大学.pptVIP

Three Gorges and Nu River Dams Impact and Issues in Chinese Development Dams and The Drive to Develop One of the most common features in the drive to development is the construction of riverine dams Purposes are usually threefold: hydroelectricity, irrigation and flood prevention But costs are huge and displacement of settlements is often significant Environmental considerations also abound The Location of Three Gorges Dam on Yangtze River History Dam on Yangtze first proposed by Sun Yat Sen in 1919 The idea resurfaced in 1963 as part of the new policies to build a third front of industry in southwest China. But Cultural Revolution erupted in 1966, and in 1969 the fear that the dam would be sabotaged by the Soviet Union, now an enemy, resulted in a construction delay. The economic reforms introduced in 1978 underlined the need for more electric power to supply a growing industrial base, so the State Council approved the construction in 1979 Criticisms Cost The dam will far exceed the official cost estimate, and the investment will be unrecoverable as cheaper power sources become available and lure away ratepayers Resettlement Relocated people are worse off than before and their human rights are being violated Environment Water pollution and deforestation will increase, the coastline will be eroded and the altered ecosystem will further endanger many species. Local Culture The reservoir will flood many historical sites and ruin the legendary scenery of the gorges and the local tourism industry Navigation Heavy siltation will clog ports within a few years and negate improvements to navigation. Power Gen Technological advancements have made hydrodams obsolete, and a decentralized energy market will allow ratepayers to switch to cheaper, cleaner power supplies Flood Control Siltation will decrease flood storage capacity, the dam will not prevent floods on tributaries, and more effective flood control solutions are available. Positives Cost The dam is