Taking Good Care of Project-Affected-Families in Dam Construction Projects

Abstract

Professor Yutaka Takahasi ought to be regarded as a harbinger of Japanese researchers in terms of his involvement in the issue of dealing with project-affected-families (PAFs) in dam construction projects. The insights Professor Takahasi showed in the case of the Shimouke Dam proved to be solid and useful, not only for that particular dam but also for other dam construction projects in Japan. The ways and means of taking good care of PAFs, as suggested by Professor Takahasi for the PAFs of the Shimouke Dam, failed to draw the attention of the Ministry of Construction. It led to a delay in properly dealing with PAFs of dam construction projects abroad that were financed by the Japanese government. Post-project reviews carried out on these dam construction projects revealed that several useful and practical lessons may be learned from Japanese past cases and that such lessons are of use for dam projects in developing nations. Academic contributions by Professor Takahasi have led to much rational and thoughtful methodology about taking good care of PAFs both in Japan and abroad.