AFTER the World War II, thousands were displaced in Slovakia when the government undertook dam construction projects. However, those displaced were neither rehabilitated nor given compensation. The affected villages lost their independent municipal status and were deprived of state subsidies, leading to the collapse of their social and economic infrastructure. Even though none of these people have ever depended on supply of energy, drinking or irrigation water from the large dams, the authorities continue build dams without giving a thought to these people. Now the country's non-governmental organisations have made a joint call to the government for a moratorium on any funding and construction of dams, including projects under construction. They have also demanded that a comprehensive economic, social and environmental assessment be undertaken of all the dam projects.
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