The photographic report titled “The Narmanda River Dam: The Human Cost of Electrification” documents both the construction of a dam on the Narmanda River and the social and economic consequences it has had on the surrounding rural communities. The images capture the imposing structure of the dam, which stands as a symbol of progress and modernity in the world’s largest democracy. However, they also reveal the human impact of this construction.
Photographs focused on the villages that were home to rural families reveal the forced displacement they have experienced. Families that have already abandoned their homes are compelled to leave behind their livelihoods based on agriculture and fishing. The reportage also highlights communities that will soon face a similar fate, as well as individuals who have been relocated to a new area where they feel disconnected and deprived of their traditional means of living.
For the author, the paradox between energy progress and the human consequences of such projects is the key focus of this work, which continues in the most populous cities where the demand for electricity is highest.
