Don’t people displaced by dams share in the benefits, and get compensated for their losses?
In nearly every case, the majority of people evicted by dams end up further impoverished, and rarely share in the benefits. They suffer cultural decline, high rates of sickness and great psychological stress. The ones who suffer are typically those most marginalized in society – poor farmers and indigenous people. In some cases, people receive no or negligible compensation for their losses. Where compensation is given, cash payments are rarely enough to compensate for the loss of land, homes, jobs and businesses. Dam–affected communities are often promised great improvements such as electricity, new clinics and improved schools. Such promises are often broken.
