River Valley Project and the Developmental Deficiencies in Maithon Reservoir, Bathanbari, West Barddhaman, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Dams and reservoirs often facilitate the high economic gain in lieu of prolonged initial societal pain. Prevailing ecosystems be it in the minor pool, land, grassland, forest or built up do face the extremity of consequences. Developmental initiatives, which generally modify surficial form and often geared the risk of vulnerability, may not be able to alter the socio-economic status in its very vicinity. Miseries do prevail among the commoners despite the utmost (may or may not be the all-round) endeavour from the government sectors. Sometimes they may either have to share the destinies of developmental refuges or mere onlookers. Lack of consciousness, the apathy of self-introduction from the benefit of government and non-government project retards them from effective harvesting. Their own inabilities of attachment discourage themselves to be intact with these. This write up is a glimpse on the development of Maithon Reservoir on one of the tributaries of the once ‘River of Sorrows’ the  Damodar under Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), a multipurpose river valley project and its consequences on the life and livelihood pattern of this  nearby village community.