Mountain Research and Development (Aug 2018)
Local Residents' Perceptions of a Dam and Reservoir Project in the Teesta Basin, Darjeeling Himalayas, India
Abstract
We researched local residents' perceptions of a dam and reservoir construction project in the Teesta River catchment basin (Darjeeling Himalayas) within 1.5 years of its completion, using a questionnaire survey. Most survey participants expressed negative perceptions of the project, citing a declining quality of life (loss of jobs and loss of access to river sites that had been important for religious practices and livelihoods) and a sense of insecurity (risk of landslides). These results may help predict attitudes toward similar reservoir projects that are planned for the Teesta basin.
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