A framework for conflict prevention/resolution in Mega Water Resources and Hydropower Development Projects | |
| Author | Sheikh, Muhammad Imran |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ST-03-41 |
| Subject(s) | Sustainable development--Pakistan Conflict management--Pakistan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. ST-03-41 |
| Abstract | This study was undertaken to formulate a framework of conflict prevention and resolution for sustainable project development. For this purpose, possible factors that could eliminate or at least reduce potential areas of conflict and where unavoidable, such strategies that remediate the significance of the residual effect of the conflict were to be determined. For conflict prevention, 45 potential mitigation measures encompassing aspects of sustainable development were identified. The respondents comprising of 6 groups i.e., project affected people, project NGO, project participants, local government officials, informants and experts and NGOs were asked to rate their opinions about the relative importance of these measures in conflict prevention as well as the extent to which these have contributed in conflict prevention in terms of their level of satisfaction. All the factors were ranked as important and very important by the respondent groups except project participants who rated only 3 factors out of 45 as moderately important. These variables are concerned with inclusion of indigenous community in decision-making and public policy, recourse mechanism and control of noise and vibration. The effectiveness of the mitigation practiced was determined by the degree of gap between potential and actually practiced mitigation measures. It has been found that some gaps existed in the planning and implementation of the mitigation plan because of the fact that project affected people, NGOs and local government officials rated the mitigation process at GBHP to be 'moderately effective' whereas project participants, project NGO and informants and experts rated the same to be 'effective'. Thus, two coalitions of groups emerged exhibiting gaps due to their attitudinal differences. In order to derive most significant benefits from the application of mitigation measures, the areas exhibiting largest gaps between theory and practice were identified. The barriers responsible for the occurrence of these gaps were investigated. As a result, 10 potential areas were identified which have greater potential for avoidance/ reduction of conflicts and 8 principal factors were deduced that can bridge the implementation gap in order to prevent conflicts for sustainable project development. Four strategies were identified in order to resolve the residual conflicts, if not reduced potentially to an acceptable level. These include mediation, negotiation, domination and litigation. However, mediation and negotiation were found to be ' most effective' and 'effective' conflict resolution strategies respectively to deal with strategic issues. Domination was found useful in situations where legal/ technical implications prevailed and problems became administrative and was ranked to be 'just effective'. In order to assess the level of sustainability, multiple criteria were selected. It was found that the aspects of sustainable development were moderately realized at GBHP. This is due to the gaps exhibited in practice of the mitigation measures, pertaining to long-term aspects of the project development. |
| Year | 2003 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. ST-03-41 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Structural Engineering (STE) /Former Name = Structural Engineering and Construction (ST) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ogunlana, Stephen O.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Clemente, Roberto S. ;Hadikusumo, Bonaventura H. W. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2003 |