Dam construction often results in the large-scale displacement of people from villages, forcing communities to relocate to newly developed resettlement areas. Rehabilitation refers to the process of restoring disturbed environments, displaced communities, and modified landscapes to a stable, sustainable, and functional condition. In India, rehabilitation broadly involves supporting individuals and communities in regaining their social, economic, environmental and psychological well-being after displacement caused by development projects, disasters, or other socio-economic challenges. Goa has experienced several rehabilitation-related issues arising from mining closures, dam-induced displacement, substance abuse problems, and environmental degradation. The construction of the Anjunem Dam is an example of development-induced displacement in the state. Morlem Colony is a rehabilitated settlement developed to resettle families displaced due to the construction of this Dam. Villages such as Gulem, Anjunem, Pansule, and Kelwade were submerged during reservoir construction, leading to the relocation of their inhabitants. This rehabilitation process marks a transition from traditional village settings to planned resettlement of colonies, where displaced communities have attempted to rebuild their housing, livelihoods, and social relationships. The primary goal of this study is to examine the social and environmental impacts of rehabilitation on people displaced by the Anjunem Dam. The study uses both primary and secondary data sources, collected through questionnaires, field observations and GIS-based methods. The findings suggest that rehabilitated villages now experience higher temperatures compared to their earlier settlements, mainly due to the loss of surrounding forest cover. In addition, social issues such as poor transport connectivity and declining water quality continue to adversely affect the daily life and overall well-being of the resettled population.
D'Costa et al. (Fri,) studied this question.