Upstream effects of dam on livelihoods of agriculture-dependent communities: A micro-level study of Itamara mouza in Hirbandh C.D. block, Bankura District, West Bengal (India)

Abstract

It is generally believed that the Dam has been constructed for the development of society. Although several previous studies have shown a negative aspect of it, especially downstream of the Dam, limited studies have been done regarding the Dam's impact on the upstream area. This paper shows the effects of the Kangsabati Dam on the livelihood of the people living in the upstream area. Primary data have been collected through simple random sampling from the household level (50% of the household or 40 households), which is quantitative cum qualitative. The purposive random sampling method was applied to collect qualitative data from the various level (Focused group discussion and from the individual interview) for further analysis. Secondary data were collected from multiple governmental sources, research articles, reports, and so on. The study found that 35.99 ha of land (37.64% area of the mouza) were submerged under the Dam. Consequently, 84.41% area of multiple crop land (30.32 ha) of this Itamara village submerges under this Dam water. Eventually, single-crop land remained for agriculture. Thereby agricultural production from the land (2.467 ton/hectare) and economic gain (14000–16000 INR/hectare) from this decreases and it is approximately three times lower than the pre-dam condition. As well as, the proportion of cultivator to the total workforce reduce by 79.74% and the proportion of agricultural labour to the total workforce increase by 72.24% from 1961 to 2011. Thus, the people of this village lose their natural and economic capital resulting in severe effect on livelihood of the villagers. Loss of livelihood assets resulted in increasing unemployment, shifting in occupation from cultivation to agricultural labour, deficient production, outmigration, rising poverty, deteriorating health conditions, and thereby facing scarcity of livelihood security. Hence, after adopting a participatory approach with the help of the local government and local people using local resources, a sustainable integrated plan at the grassroots level will help them in their overall development.