Water as a driving force of nature and power (Hydroelectric power plants [HEPPs] and the dilemma of development and ecology from an anthropological perspective)

While two indispensable components of life, water and development, continue to shape each other constantly, human beings have always attempted to control water for food supply, irrigation, energy etc. throughout history. Huge dam and hydroelectric power plant projects have been initiated as one of the most important elements of development, an idea that was initiated in Western countries, and then 'exported' to developing countries particularly following the Industrial Revolution. The result is almost no freely flowing rivers remaining on Earth. There are many benefits these power plants provide for requirements of the modern life, while rapidly growing world population and gradually decreasing freshwater resources, their effects on the ecosystems surrounding rivers, as well as their social, cultural and environmental effects are not taken into account, which, as a result, make the alleged clean and renewable hydroelectric energy not sustainable. This study discusses hydroelectric power plants (HEPPs) within the framework of Development and Ecology from an anthropological perspective and evaluates the impact of two river-type hydroelectric plants on the daily lives of local people in the Aksu Valley located at the İspir District of Erzurum.