La construcción y operación de la hidroeléctrica Miel I (Hidromiel I), de 398 MW de potencia, localizada en la vertiente oriental de la cordillera central, en el sector nororiental de Caldas, cerca a la población de Norcasia, inmediatamente aguas abajo de la confluencia de los ríos Miel y Moro. |
| Name of conflict: | Hidroelectrica Miel I, Caldas, Colombia |
| Country: | Colombia |
| State or province: | Caldas |
| Location of conflict: | Norcasia |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Water Management |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Water access rights and entitlements Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines) |
| Specific commodities: | Water Electricity |
| Project details | La construcción tardó 57 meses, inaugurada a comienzos del año 2003 junto con la presa Pantágoras (sobre el río Miel) que, con 188 metros, es la más alta del mundo y permite la creación del embalse Amaní, con capacidad para 571 millones de m3 de agua. |
| Project area: | 3000 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 600 500 000 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 1000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 1998 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Firma Hidromiel from Colombia Alstom from France Kvaerner Hidroestudios from Colombia Firma interventora Ingetec from Colombia ISAGEN from Colombia Odebrecht Ambiental from Brazil |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, Alcaldía de Norcasia, Gobernación de Caldas, Asamblea Departamental, Procuraduria General de la Nacion, Defensoria del Pueblo, Corporación Autónoma Regional de Caldas |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Observatorio de Conflictos Ambientales - Universidad de Caldas, Censat Agua Viva, Red Nacional de Pueblo Afectados y Amenazados por Represas y Trasvases, Comité Veedor del Proyecto Manso-Amaní |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Arguments for the rights of mother nature Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Desertification/Drought, Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity Potential: Air pollution, Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Global warming, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Land dispossession |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Land demarcation Strengthening of participation Application of existing regulations |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Revisar el modelo que da prioridad al crecimiento económico mediante la apropiación del potencial hídrico y con ello la falta de políticas ambientales referentes al uso del agua. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | El caso de la hidroelectrica Miel I (Hidromiel) NO puede ser considerado un triunfo de Justicia Ambiental porque con ello se afecto ecosistemas importantes, especies de flora y fauna endúmicas de la region, asi como tambien las actividades tradicionales de la poblacion desplazada. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
| Contributor: | MARIO PÉREZ RINCÓN, JMA y TW |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 1144 |