الصحفي عثمان مرغني وإدمان الكذب!!

Quote: ICOLD members - Egypt 29 January 2001 Egyptian National Committee on Large Dams (ENCOLD° COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE "WCD" FINAL REPORT I. Background The World Commission on Dams (WCD) was proposed and sponsored by World Bank (WB) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), as a result of Gland Switzerland Workshop in April 1997. For more than two years – since May 1998 until November 2000 – the Commission had its work program that was considering the following tasks : Case-studies of some River Basins in five continents Cross-check survey of some targeted Large Dams Thematic Reviews, targeting five main issues Four regional consultations On November 2000, the Commission launched its final report in London, under the title of "Dams and Development – A New Framework for Decision-Making". The report is comprising two parts and ten chapters, discussing and elaborating water and development of large dams and reviews of large dams with respect to : Economic Performance, Ecosystems and Environment, Social Aspects, Options for Water and Energy, Decision-Making (Planning & Institution), Enhancing Human Development, Policy Framework for Water and Energy Resources, Guidelines for Applications, and Agenda for Beyond the Commission. The main report is contained in about (320) pages, and the Annexes and Illustrations are contained in other about (100) pages. II. Reflections and Responses From the first reading of the Prefaces, the executive Summary and the Findings and Lessons concluding the report's ten chapters, and without going to lengthy details and debates, the following main comments are outlines : 1. It was expected that the review would address in balanced and comprehensive assessment the benefits and concern of large dams and its role in development. These methodologies were not properly reflected in the report. 2. Instead, the report looks to the issues from one side, while the coin should be looked from its both faces. It seems that concentration on the assessment was given prominence to few aspects such as: ecology and bio-diversity, resettlement, governance and participation, rights and risks, equity, gender, safety, gas emissions, heritages, health …etc. 3. It was expected, that while discussing and elaborating the previous concerns to refer to the national, international and other related Commissions efforts towards tackling and effectively dealing with such issues through proper management, prevention, mitigation and improvements. There are great success and achievement towards such aspects (e.g. High Aswan Dam, and very many other cases around the world). 4. With respect to certain recommendations, such as equity, transparency, rights and risks, planning and compliance, policy framework and guidelines for development, option assessment, system sustainability and optimal operations … etc. (outlined in chapter 6-10), it is already the concern and adoptions of relevant authorities worldwide through legislations, regulations, rules, mandates …etc. that are applied and implemented by all concerned bodies and authorities (political, legislative and executives … etc.). 5. The options and alternatives proposed in chapter (5) for water and hydropower resources are not practical, feasible or economic and are not competing or replaceable to dams and reservoirs, especially with future pressing and greater needs for water and power resources. Examples of such options trials, failures or unfeasibility, could be touched in many cases and regions. 6. It seems that Commission's two mandates by Gland Workshop (Review the effectiveness of Large Dams, and develop acceptable criteria for planning, construction and operation of dams), were not properly and fairly tackled, due to the fact that the review didn't give suitable attention to the role of dams in development (almost four pages in chapter 1), while the remainder of the report was debating about what was called : Problems Associated with Large Dams. Moreover, it seems from the Commission's conduct and report that it was shifted from large dams question to different issued related to world water, power, international rivers, environment, human resources and rights … etc., which are already the concern of many other institutions and organizations. 7. The debates about the displaced people and resettlement due to dam construction, and the estimation of some 40-80 million people, is very questionable (especially with the range of upper and lower limit of 200%). The resettlement for High Aswan Dam was for 50,000 inhabitants only, and were successfully implemented. At the same time, the report didn't highlight the mass exodus and miseries of displacements and migrations due to disaster of civil strives, wars, floods, droughts and ethnical problems. At least, dams had contributed to alleviating the catastrophes of floods, droughts and famines, of which the report gave estimation to an average of 65 million people were affected by floods (only) between years of 1972-1996, and that 3.3 million people every year were left homeless. In Egypt, we had experiences serious catastrophes of floods and droughts before the High Aswan Dam, and which no longer exist. There are much of such severe problems around the world, documented and experiences all the times. 8. With respect to technical and economic performance and profitability, it is always in most of cases that planning for constructing a dam, is not a simple matter, and it always takes its utmost consideration of comprehensive studies, evaluations and procedures that cover all related aspects (technical, financial, economic, social, environmental … etc.). As an example, the thoughts and studies about the High Aswan Dam had started since 1820, and the time taken since then until 1950s, when the project came into action, a very comprehensive hydrological, technical, optional, feasible economical/financial and environmental studies were carried out. In 1993 ICOLD Meeting in Cairo, a comprehensive review and evaluation to all its socio-economic and environmental impacts had been the topics of a special symposium which concluded with the appreciation for the project as an overall socio-economic welfare for the Egyptian society. Very many other cases could be highlighted in different Countries (e.g. the development of land and water in Central California Project in USA, and in China, India, Japan, where 74% of world dams have been developed and managed to feed almost half of the world population in those Countries), and still in India and China are in need for more dams and reservoirs projects. 9. With respect to river damming and impounding, out of about 3600 km3 of water, regulated and released from dams and reservoirs, there are still availability for feasible water flows and abstractions from rivers of an amount of more than 13.5 thousand km3, out of total run-off of about 42.0 thousand km3 of water to ensure the environmental and ecosystems conservation and required releases. The greenhouse gas emission from dam reservoirs should be properly assessed and compared with other terrible sources and the positive effects of reservoirs in improving this phenomena and recreations, planations … etc. 10. It is worthy to mention that there are many notable international/national organizations that are exerting appreciated efforts towards the sustainability and optimization of resources and environment conservation, e.g. the ICOLD, ICID, WWC, IWRA, IHA … etc. 11. Regarding the proposed options for water and energy resources development, it couldn't replace or could be alternatives for basins and rivers development and the role of dams and reservoirs in this endeavors, specially in some under-developed Countries of Africa, for example where the exploited to tech. Feasible hydroelectric is less than 3.5%, and reservoirs number of less than 1200, out of 48 000 large dams worldwide. One of the master-keys for enhancing the socio-economic and human development in this Continent is controlling and regulating their water, which are uneven (temporal and spatial), to enhance the welfare of its people. 12. It's know that the developing and growing institutions, regulations, legislations, awareness … etc. are already being applicable and enforced at different authorities to ensure the welfare and sustainability of societies and individuals rights and equity. Continuous monitoring, evaluation, and actions and/or changes, are being considered by all concerned bodies nationwide in different societies. 13. Finally, and due to the enormous information, submissions, consultations, resources … etc., which the WCD had acquired during its lifetime program, it was expected that its reporting and assessments would be much more viable and appropriate if the matter would be taken in balanced and in depth by experience professionals, and in consultation and close cooperation with relevant institutions and organizations, and to hear equally from both sides to enrich and justify the findings and visions, and gain the consensus of the whole players. The ICOLD and other sister organizations are playing such roles efficiently and effectively through its policies and missions to ensure the importance of dams for sustainable development of water resources and hydropower.