REEVALUATING MULTIPURPOSE RIVER VALLEY PROJECTS - A CASE-STUDY OF HIRAKUD, UKAI AND IGNP

The absence of post-construction reviews severely hamper assessments o f multi-purpose river valley projects' (MRVPs) actual performance vis- a-vis its claims, Long-term effects like ecological disequilibriums re main unaccounted for due to an absence of comprehensive pre-project en vironmental impact assessment. This article, studying three projects, namely, Hirakud, Ukai and Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP), clearly demonstrates the glaring and complete dichotomy between pre-constructi on projections and post-construction realities. Water-logging salinity , sedimentation and health hazards have a high possibility of occurren ce. Even flood control, irrigation and power generation are not effect ive as envisaged These experiences, the article argues, need to be stu died in-depth and made to constitute an important parr of future plann ing for MRVPs.