Locally and globally, mega-hydraulic projects have become deeply controversial. Recently, despite widespread critique, they have regained a new impetus worldwide. The development and operation of large dams and mega-hydraulic infrastructure projects are manifestations of contested knowledge regimes. In this special issue we present, analyze and critically engage with situations where multiple knowledge regimes interact and conflict with each other, and where different grounds for claiming the truth are used to construct hydrosocial realities. In this introductory paper, we outline the conceptual groundwork. We discuss ‘the dark legend of UnGovernance’ as an epistemological mainstay underlying the mega-hydraulic knowledge regimes, involving a deep, often subconscious, neglect of the multiplicity of hydrosocial territories and water cultures. Accordingly, modernist epistemic regimes tend to subjugate other knowledge systems and dichotomize ‘civilized Self’ versus ‘backward Other’; they depend upon depersonalized planning models that manufacture ignorance. Romanticizing and reifying the ‘othered’ hydrosocial territories and vernacular/indigenous knowledge, however, may pose a serious danger to dam-affected communities. Instead, we show how multiple forms of power challenge mega-hydraulic rationality thereby repoliticizing large dam regimes. This happens often through complex, multi-actor, multi-scalar coalitions that make that knowledge is co-created in informal arenas and battlefields.

The contributions to the Special Issue on Contested Knowledges: Water Conflicts on Large Dams and Mega-Hydraulic Development have looked at the politics of contested knowledge as manifested in the conceptualization, design, development, implementation and governance of large dams and mega-hydraulic infrastructure projects in various parts of the world [...]

The upgrading of the Hare Irrigation System was a joint undertaking of the governments of Ethiopia and the People's Republic of China. After completion of the primary and the secondary canals, farmers refused to take over responsibility of the system. Existing literature on the Hare Irrigation System does not differentiate between various farmer groups and their interests. This study highlights the differences in perception of head-end, middle and tail-end farmers. The main group that is not satisfied with the system are the head-enders, because they are partly excluded from using it. While the middle and tail-end farmers are satisfied with the new irrigation system, they are unhappy because they have not received the ''promised'' compensation. Overall, the paper highlights the lack of transparency and communication between the local community, the government and the Chinese design and construction agency, which appears to be the main reason for the dissatisfaction of parts of the local community. RÉ SUMÉLa mise à niveau du périmètre d'irrigation de Hare a été un projet commun des gouvernements d'Ethiopie et de la République populaire de Chine. Après l'achèvement des canaux primaires et secondaires, les paysans ont refusé de prendre en charge la responsabilité du système. La littérature existante sur le périmètre de Hare ne fait pas de distinctions entre les divers groupes d'agriculteurs et leurs intérêts. Cette étude met en lumière les différences existant dans la perception des irrigants situés en tête, au milieu et à l'extrémité du réseau. Le groupe le plus insatisfait du système est celui de tête, parce que ses membres sont en partie exclus de son utilisation. De leur côté, les groupes du milieu et de l'extrémité sont satisfaits du nouveau système d'irrigation, mais ils sont mécontents parce qu'ils n'ont pas reçu la compensation « promise ». D'une façon générale, l'article met en évidence le manque de transparence et de communication entre la communauté locale, le gouvernement et la société chinoise chargée de la conception et de la construction du réseau, lacune qui semble être la raison principale du mécontentement des différents groupes composant la communauté locale.

One of the elements of sustainable hydropower development is the release of the environmental flows (Eflows). This Eflows is meant to ensure that prior use(r)s of the river water are respected and that essential riverine ecosystem functions are maintained. This paper presents the results of an e-flows assessment, using the hydrological index method, of Hewa Khola A and Lower Hewa Khola Hydropower Projects, in Phidim, Nepal. These projects are being developed in the tributaries of Tamor River in Eastern part of Nepal. The e-flows assessment results are compared with the current releases made from the projects in operation. Current operations are prone to lead to severe degradation and social conflict. Based on an evaluation of the effects of a higher Eflows release on the power production, the paper concludes with recommendations for appropriate Eflow releases, and thus for socially and environmentally sustainable operations of the hydropower projects.   HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water, Energy and Environment Issue: 23Year: 2018

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