Does the Three Gorges Dam in China have more benefits than negative consequences? When it was under construction, scientists expressed their concern over the risks involved in building the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. The costs, far exceeding 25 billion dollars, included the relocation of over a million people living along the river, the permanent flooding of 12,000 towns, and irreversible environmental effects.
Despite the arguments against the dam, China said there were huge benefits that outweighed the potential harm. The primary benefit was the dam’s ability to produce 18,000 megawatts of electricity for a country that was desperately seeking to wean itself from coal- and oil-based energy. Promoters also argued that the dam could finally control the constant flooding along the Yangzi River that had claimed the lives of thousands of people over the years.
However, only now that the dam is fully functional are we able to test its purported benefits. Right now, south and central China are plagued with heavy rainfall, but the dam appears incapable of solving serious flooding problems. Last week alone the floods were responsible for dozens of deaths, and have displaced tens of thousands of people. The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has reported that 2.48 million people have been affected, and some cities are completely submerged.
Read more:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-07/09/content_10089321.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5000092.stm
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