Building New Dams Is An Ethical Solution For Water

Scarcity

For The Motion

1. Increased Water Storage: Dams create reservoirs that store water

during wet seasons, providing a reliable source during droughts for
drinking, irrigation, and hydropower

2. Flood Control: Dams can regulate river flows, preventing destructive

floods and protecting lives and property downstream.

3. Hydropower Generation: Dams can generate clean, renewable

hydropower, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate
change.

4. Improved Navigation: Reservoirs can improve river navigation,

facilitating transportation and trade.

5. Economic Benefits: Dams can provide irrigation for agriculture,

leading to increased food production and economic growth in the region.
They can also create jobs in construction, operation, and maintenance.

We would like to quote some examples to support our stance:

1. The Hoover Dam (USA): Constructed during the Great Depression, the
Hoover Dam provides water, flood control, and hydropower to millions of
people in the Southwestern United States.

2. The Tehri Dam (India): This dam in the Himalayas provides irrigation
water, hydroelectric power, and helps regulate the flow of the Ganges
River.

Surveys/public opinions supporting the motion:

1. A 2021 survey by the International Commission on Large Dams

(ICOLD) found that a majority of respondents in developing countries
viewed dams favorably for their role in water security and development.
2. A 2019 study by the World Bank found that dams can have a positive
economic impact by providing water for irrigation and hydropower

3. A 2022 World Water Council survey found that a majority of

respondents (62%) globally believe that dams are a necessary tool for
water management.

4. A 2018 study published in Nature Sustainability found that public

support for dams in China is high,due to the association with economic
development and flood control.

Against The Motion

1. Displacement and Resettlement: Dam construction often displaces

communities, leading to social unrest and loss of livelihoods. Resettlement
programs may not adequately compensate for lost cultural heritage and
traditional ways of life.

2. Environmental Impact: Dams disrupt natural river flows, impacting

ecosystems downstream. They can harm fish populations, fragment
habitats, and contribute to water pollution along with greenhouse gas
emissions because the decomposition of organic matter trapped in
reservoirs can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

3. Unsustainable Practices: Dams encourage reliance on water-intensive

practices like large-scale agriculture, potentially increasing water scarcity
in the long run.

4. Unequal Distribution of Benefits: Large-scale irrigation projects often

favor big landowners, leaving small farmers with limited access to water.
Additionally, downstream communities may experience water shortages
due to reduced river flow.

5. Sustainability: Dams can fill with sediment over time, reducing storage
capacity. Long-term solutions to water scarcity might be needed.

6. Ignoring Long-Term Costs: The true cost of dams often extends

beyond construction, including environmental restoration and social
programs for displaced communities.
7. Conflict Over Water Rights: New dams can aggravate existing
tensions over water rights between communities and regions.

Examples to support the arguments:

1. The Aral Sea: The Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest lake, has
shrunk dramatically due to Soviet-era dam projects that diverted water for
irrigation. This has caused widespread ecological devastation, impacting
fish populations, desertification, and dust storms.

2. The Mekong River: Large dams built on the Mekong River in

Southeast Asia have disrupted fish migration patterns, threatening the
livelihoods of millions who depend on the river's fisheries. These dams
have also contributed to increased salinity and changes in water flow,
impacting the delicate ecosystem of the Mekong Delta.

3. The Three Gorges Dam: This massive dam in China displaced over 1.4
million people and submerged numerous archaeological and cultural sites.
Concerns remain about water quality, landslides, and potential earthquakes
triggered by the dam's construction.

4. The Narmada Valley Dams Project: This project in India involved

building a series of dams on the Narmada River. While intended for
irrigation and power generation, it displaced tens of thousands of
indigenous people and tribal communities, leading to social unrest and
protests.

Studies/Surveys/Public Opinions to Support Our Stance:

1. A 2021 study in Science Advances found that global dam construction

has led to a significant decline in freshwater fish populations
2. A 2019 report by the World Bank found that large dams have displaced
an estimated 40-80 million people worldwide
3. A 2020 study in Nature Geoscience estimates that hydropower
contributes significantly to global methane emissions
4. A 2023 survey by International Rivers, an environmental NGO, found
that a growing number of people worldwide are concerned about the social
and environmental impacts of dams.