An Opportunities-Based Approach to Mitigating Risks Associated with Infrastructure Development Projects

Authors

  • Don Messerschmidt Department of Electricity Development (Nepal, 2001)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/hn.v3i0.1912

Keywords:

Resettlement, opportunities, risk, IRR model, South Asia, infrastructure development

Abstract

‘Risk' is a major point of focus in the literature on resettlement and reconstruction associated with the impacts of major infrastructure development on project affected individuals and families. Previous approaches to risk appear to emphasize the negative consequences of development, and it is no wonder then that project affected people often emphatically resist development and change. This paper proposes that a more pro-active, positive opportunities and benefits approach be taken in dealing with resettlement and reconstruction associated with large scale infrastructure projects. The discussion is focused on the eight ‘risk factors' (or ‘opportunity factors'?) listed in the well known ‘Impoverishment Risk and Reconstruction' (IRR) Model. Three more such factors are added to the list based on field experience in South Asia. The point is that by emphasizing the potential opportunities and benefits, project affected people are more likely to be supportive of projects that may disrupt their lives.

Key words: Resettlement, opportunities, risk, IRR model, South Asia, infrastructure development  

doi: 10.3126/hn.v3i0.1912

Hydro Nepal: Journal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue No. 3, January, 2008 Page 9-15

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Author Biography

Don Messerschmidt, Department of Electricity Development (Nepal, 2001)

is an anthropologist who hasworked on hydropower, drinking water, groundwater and road development projects, as well as in natural resource management and community health programs. His consulting has taken him to Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Vi etnam, over a period of four decades. (He first worked in community  development as an American Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal in the early 1960s.) Dr Messerschmidt is the lead author of the Manual for Public Involvement in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process of Hydropower Projects from the Department of Electricity Development (Nepal, 2001) and of the Reference Manual for Environmental and Social Aspects of Integrated Road Development from the Department of Roads (Nepal, 2003). He has published numerous articles on development in professional journals and books, and has served as Executive Editor of HydroNepal since its inception.

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Published

2009-05-26

How to Cite

Messerschmidt, D. (2009). An Opportunities-Based Approach to Mitigating Risks Associated with Infrastructure Development Projects. Hydro Nepal: Journal of Water, Energy and Environment, 3, 9–15. https://doi.org/10.3126/hn.v3i0.1912

Issue

Vol. 3 (2008)

Section

Articles

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The copyright of the articles and papers published is held by HYDRO Nepal Journal.

The views and interpretation in this journal are those of author(s), and HYDRO Nepal does not bear any responsibility for the views expressed by authors in the journal.