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World Commission on 'dams' to hold 1st S. Asian hearing

Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka - 29 November 2000

World Commission on Dams to hold 1st South Asian hearing in Colombo
COLOMBO, Friday (Lankapuvath) - The South Africa-based World Commission on Dams (WCD) will hold its first South Asian regional hearing in Colombo early December this year.

This will be the first of a series of internaitonal hearings to be held by the commission to hear directly from different interest groups including people's organisations, policy makers, academics and project developers on their experiences, knowledge and views of the development effectiveness of large dams.

Nearly 30 such representatives from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will make presentations at the hearing to be held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo on December 10 and 11.

Headed by Professor Kader Asmal, its 12 commissioners - drawn from diverse backgrounds from public and private sectors as well as civil society and academia and representing a balanced mix - will engage in consultations with participants, but will not adjudicate or mediate on any specific dam issue or dispute.

The commission's Secretary-General Achim Steiner says: "It will thus not respond to petitions or calls for intervention that may be directed towards it. Its own observations and recommendations will be synthesized after the widely consultative process which begins in Colombo."

Immediately after the hearing, they will hold a two-day meeting and also participate in a field visit to certain dam sites where they plan to meet with dam managers and dam-affected communities.

In mid-2000, the commission will formally submit a report with recommendations to the international community as well as to the World Bank and the Director-General of World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Born out of a workshop in Switzerland in April last year, this independent commission's mandate is to review the development effectiveness of large dams and to develop standards where applicable, criteria and guidelines to advise future decision-making.

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