People-powered Development for Agenda 2030

On July 5 to 15, the United Nations will be holding its High-level Political Forum in order to review the progress on the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s HLPF revolves around the theme, “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, and the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of 45 countries – with seven from Asia-Pacific. 

With six other Asia-Pacific countries, Sri Lanka will be reporting its progress on Agenda 2030 during this year's HLPF, an opportune time to discuss the current economic and development crisis the country is facing. Sri Lanka’s first VNR was conducted in 2018, visualizing an “Inclusive Transformation towards a Sustainably Developed Nation for All”, in which economic transformation is based upon green growth and social inclusivity. Four years later, this vision was hardly realized as the people of Sri Lanka are facing a food, fuel and health crisis as they remain to call for transparency and accountability from the Rajapaksa government.

With the debt largely coming from existing loans promoted by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, there is a need to look into development projects promoted by donor countries and international finance institutions. Projects from the CSO Aid Observatorio detail the negative impacts of the development projects on the country’s progress in the SDGs, leading to burden and hardships on the people of Sri Lanka. Zeroing in on the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, it can be seen that harmful development projects contribute to regression, instead of progress, for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Uma Oya Hydropower Complex, also known as the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP), is an irrigation and hydroelectric complex under construction in the Badulla District of Sri Lanka. Initial assessments of the project date back to 1989, when the pilot studies were administered by the country's Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau. The total cost of this project is assessed to be about USD 529 million, in which 85% of it is provided by the Government of Iran.

The UOMDP is a two-phase project. The first phase is geared towards generating electricity, while the second part is designed for irrigation.  The project entails constructing a dam across Dalgolla Oya, and directing water over a 3,975 meter tunnel to Mathatilla Oya. At Mathatilla Oya, another dam is being built to channel water to the Alikota Aru. The underground power station at Alikota Aru would generate the energy and would be transmitted through Badulla.

The UOMDP claims to target the following SDGs: clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9). However, realities on ground say otherwise.

While there is a need to transition to renewable energy sources, construction of these systems must not contribute Renewable energy projects must not contribute to further environmental degradation and erode people's rights. The construction of the dam contributed to soil erosion, posing threats of landslide in communities. A large impact on the water systems and sources also occured with the implementation of the project.

While the project declares that through the irrigation systems constructed, it will provide communties secure access to water. However, the tunneling led to major leaks, which dried up water sources for agriculture and daily use. Having a dam would also divert the water flow from the rivers, which farmers are dependent on. The Ravana Ella waterfalls also dried out. With this, farmlands became unusable, irrigation has been limited; leaving the communities with little to no access to water. Over 2,200 acres of land used for farming was abandoned due to the lack of stable source of water. With the decrease in agricultural activity, food prices also soared, burdening the people.

The drilling required for the infrastructure produced major cracks, leading to the collapse of over 7,100 houses. Over 4,750 families have been affected and displaced, without any sufficient compensation. The project also led to the destruction of school buildings and places of worship, which are crucial to the affected communities' everyday lives. These places have been made unusuable due to the damage it has sustained.

Even before the implementation of the project in 2008, communities, environmental groups, civil society organizations, and farmer associations have highlighted the risks the project poses to the people and the environment. However, the Mahinda Rajapaksa government-led Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted and approved in undemocratic terms, which allowed for the project to continue.

Development projects must be properly designed, planned and implemented with the communities and the people, in order to reflect their interests and needs. Development projects,  such as the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, should contribute to the realization of sustainable development for all. While donor countries and financial institutions would claim that their projects contribute to progress in SDGs, on-ground realities say otherwise. For the UMODP, the construction of the hydroelectric infrastructure contributed to the regression in ensuring access to clean water (SDG 6) and energy (SDG 7), and in promoting economic growth (SDG 9). 

As the government of Sri Lanka presents its Voluntary National Review of the SDGs on July 15, the people of Sri Lanka have already showed the world what kind of development they want from the succesful protests last July 10.

Massive demonstrations have been conducted in the capital of Colombo, calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as they stormed into the presidential residence. The announcement that both the President and its Prime Minister have both agreed to resign by July 13 has marked the triumph for the people. The protestors continued to make calls for the government to address the economic, food and fuel crisis, which heavily burdens the population of Sri Lanka. During this crucial time, there must be a concerted effort from the international community to stand with the people of Sri Lanka in calling for a people-centered and rights-based response to its development challenges.