Growing up, we have always been taught that dams are an environmentally friendly source of energy. After all, they produce electricity without polluting the environment like fossil fuels. The fast-flowing water is used to turn giant turbines which generates electricity when they spin. Dams generate about 2000 MW to 3000 MW of electricity per day.

            Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Bengoh Dam, a dam close to the Sarawak and Kalimantan Indonesia border with breath-taking views of the surroundings. Crossing bamboo bridges, trekking through steep terrains, sliding down mud paths; every step brought me closer to the beauty of the Bornean landscape. The homestay that I stayed at was also known as village above the clouds so you can just imagine how serene and beautiful the place is.

            In the midst of enjoying the mesmerising scenery, I had a chat with our host and found that he and his family had been living there for 10 years. Prior to the construction of the dam, they were living at the base of the hill but had to be relocated further up the hill because of the construction of the dam. Life was not easy as they had to traverse steep terrain daily to reach their homes and get to the city. Not only that, their livelihoods were also affected as losing the forest meant losing their source of supplies and potentially, their income. This was one of the main reasons why they had to turn to ecotourism – converting their house into a homestay for guests to stay over and enjoy the beauty of the dam.

This led me to question the impacts of dams on the environment and the community. If dams are a good source of electricity and water supply, why are we building them at the expense of the environment and those communities whose lives depend on the forest? Upon returning home from the trip to the dam, I decided to read up on dams and found some alarming facts about dams.

It is true that dams are useful for generating electricity, irrigation purposes and flood control. However, dams are also changing the face of the Earth and to an extent, altering the world’s climate. Dams change the connections between different parts of the river and reduces the flow of water in these areas. They block the migration of fish, particularly salmon, deplete oxygen levels and reduces the rivers’ ability to clean themselves. I was particularly surprised to find that dams are not climate neutral as they emit methane due to the organic matter rotting in the reservoirs. These account for 4% of human-made climate change.

One of the more obvious consequences of dams is the destruction of natural habitat. Dams flood thousands of acres of forests, essentially putting wildlife at risk of extinction. A study done on the Amazonian Balbina Dam found widespread loss of animals such as tortoises, elephants and birds after construction of a dam. Aside from that, dams displace people and rob them of their resources and cultural identity and continues to impoverish them.  In Sarawak, the Bengoh Dam displaced some 1600 indigenous people, causing them further hardship as they struggle to cope with life after being displaced.

After reading all the disturbing consequences of building dams, I realise that in order to move forward as a nation with a lower carbon footprint, we need to find alternatives which are less destructive to the environment. Every action comes with a set of consequences. Thus, we have to think carefully before making any decision that affects the environment.