Dam is a solid barrier constructed at a suitable location across a river valley to store flowing water.

Storage of water is utilized for following objectives:

HydropowerIrrigationWater for domestic consumptionDrought and flood controlFor navigational facilitiesOther additional utilization is to develop

fisheries

Heel

Gallery

Toe

Spillway(inside dam)

Crest

NWLNormalwater level

MWLMax. level

Free boardSluice way

Upstream Down stream

Large dams can ensure the storage of adequate water not just for irrigation, but also for generating electricity.

Canal system leading from these dams can transfer large amounts of water great distances.

For example, the Indra Gandhi canal has brought greenery to considerable areas of Rajasthan.

There is no equitable distribution of water, thus people close to source grow water intensive crops like sugarcane, rice etc.

People farther downstream do not get any water.

People who have been promised benefits which never arrived are added to discontentment among the people who have been displaced by the building of the dam and its canal network.

Social problems: because they displace large number of peasants and without adequate compensation or rehabilitation.

Economic problems: because they swallow up huge amounts of public money without the generation of proportionate benefits.

Environment problems: because they contribute enormously to deforestation and loss of biological diversity .

The people who have been displaced by various development projects are largely poor tribal's who do not get any benefits from these projects.

They are alienated from their lands and forests without adequate compensation.

The oustees of the Tawa Dam built in the 1970’s are still fighting for the benefits they were promised.