Cash Compensation Policy in the Release of Dam Reservoirs and Its Social and Cultural Consequences (Case Study: Kouchari Dam)

The construction of reservoir dams in the last 6 decades has paved the way for the displacement of more than 100 million people from their homes. According to the results of the present study, more than 2 million people in Iran have been affected by the construction of dams.  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and social and cultural consequences of cash compensation policy in the release of dam reservoirs, The conceptual framework of the research is based on the assessment of social impacts. The qualitative research method of the grounded theory technique has been used. Participants in this study were 38 local informants and experts who were interviewed with a semi-constructed questionnaire. Analysis with three methods of open, axial and selective coding was put on the agenda. The results of the analysis of the interviews show 822 general concepts, 133 sub-categories, 18 main categories and 1 central category. Findings of the research based on the paradigm model show the disintegration of social structure and cultural context in the implementation of cash compensation policy. The results point to a need to change the approach, appoint a social trustee and evaluate the social impact of the project.