Dam's restoration program on the socio-economic lives of project-affected persons at metolong , Lesotho

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the socio-economic impact of the Metolong Dam restoration program on the affected community’s livelihoods. Lesotho has in recent years experienced several constructions of bulk water projects, with the latest being the Metolong dam and reservoir. These projects are normally embedded with differing impacts on the affected communities, highlighting the need for compensation on those affected. Compensation is usually based on loss of land and other different assets. However, cash compensation for such resources has been condemned for failing to restore the welfare of communities removed from their lands and losing livelihood resources. The LHWP restoration package was largely based on a long-term compensation bundle to those affected, while Metolong restoration package provided a once-off cash transfer package accompanied with a capacity building program meant to enable affected people to create profitable livelihoods. Although Metolong's compensation package was meant to be different to that of LHWP, anecdotal evidence shows that affected community livelihoods have been negatively affected. The findings of the study revealed that the construction of Metolong dam and reservoir had adverse impacts on the societies residing in close proximity to the project site. The dam was expected to deliver many socio-economic benefits to the affected communities. However, it was determined through the findings that the project had limited positive impacts on the livelihood of the affected communities leaving them further impoverished