The Bhakra-Nangal Project
Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts

Offers a study of one of the most well known and policy-focused hydel projects in North India, the Bhakra-Nangal dam. This book analyses how far the objectives of the project were fulfilled besides examining its many incidental and indirect impacts. It also looks at the socio-economic, developmental, and environmental impacts of the project.

Big dams, initially built as the ' temples of modern India' in the Nehruvian state, came under increasing criticism due to ecological and social concerns. This book is a detailed study of one of the most well known and policy-focused hydel projects in North India, the Bhakra-Nangal dam hitherto, there have been few scientific analyses of the performance of completed schemes and their impacts in India. It analyses how far the stated objectives of the project were fulfilled besides examining its many incidental and indirect impacts. The synergetic impacts of the project and the green revolution, the effects on increased food production and productivity in the project area have been examined, while issues relating to displacement and rehabilitation of the affected people have also been analysed.

FOREWORD/ PREFACE/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS/ LIST OF FIGURES/ LIST OF BOXES/ LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS / CARTOONS/ CH 1 INTRODUCTION / CH 2 INDUS BASIN DEVELOPMENT TILL 1947 / CH 3 INDUS BASIN DEVELOPMENT AFTER 1947 / CH 4 THE PRE-PROJECT SCENE/ CH 5 THE BHAKRA-NANGAL PROJECT/ CH 6 IRRIGATION FROM BHAKRA-NANGAL PROJECT / CH 7 IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE AND INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY/ CH 8 PRODUCTION OF FOOD GRAINS/ CH 9 HYDROELECTRIC POWER / CH 10 FLOOD MANAGEMENT / CH 11 INCIDENTAL AND INDIRECT BENEFITS / CH 12 SEDIMENTATION IN THE BHAKRA RESERVOIR / CH 13 IMPACTS OF BHAKRA-NANGAL PROJECT: PEOPLE
S PERCEPTION / CH 14 SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNT / ANNEXURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / BIBLIOGRAPHY