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Posturing on WCD

by Bjørn H. Amland, Development Today - 5 April 2001

Posturing on WCD

Many donors agree with the findings of the World Commission on Dams (WCD) that the negative impacts of large dams are often borne by the poorest - those very people who are supposed to be the primary beneficiaries of aid.

Enough political momentum has built up around the WCD process to make it judicious to "welcome" the report. The problem comes with the WCD’s recommendation that affected local communities have a real say in whether dams are built.

Skanska took the brave step of coming out on Day One with a statement of intention to "apply the guidelines". Asked what this really means, Axel Wenblad of Skanska says: "We intend to take steps to use them wherever it is applicable to us."

Similarly, three of the Utstein members have coordinated their positive responses to WCD. But so far their export credit agencies are not on board, and all three are careful to add that final decisions about dam building remain with governments.

The World Bank's John Briscoe offers the clearest response, though many NGOs are disappointed. He insists that WCD's guidelines are "impractical" because you cannot give local communities a veto right in national affairs. Moreover, if these are adopted, the Bank would be out of the dams business.

Bjørn H. Amland,
Editor-in-Chief

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