Dams and Barrages on River Channels

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief overview background of dams and barrages on river channels, scope of the chapter, water and development, economic growth and development, competing uses of water, development and large dams, dams in the twentieth century, large dams as instruments of development, irrigation water supplied from large dams, problems associated with large dams, riverine ecosystems impacts, social consequences of large dams, understanding the large dams debate and social impacts and equity.