mishqui-yacu, sweet water - IFAD

The desperate rumour was disseminated throughout the parish of
El Tambo: They are going to take the water from us. The development
agencies tried their best to assure the people of El Tambo that
the opposite was true: Every one was going to benefit from a dam in
Culebrillas. But to no avail. It was too late. The irrigation users in El
Tambo had not been sufficiently involved in the planning process
and it was now too late to do anything about it. The conflict appeared
to be inevitable. 42
There were a lot of expectations. So much money had not been
invested in the area before. Quality of life and production would
be better. However, when the problems were identified, there was a
lack of communication between planners and future beneficiaries.
Few organizations and communities were consulted here in
El Tambo and they were not at all involved in the planning
process. The technicians worked for themselves and they were not
guided by an integrated vision. When people heard that the dam
of Culebrillas was going to feed a new canal besides the already
existing 14 ones, they panicked, fearing they were going to lose
their water. 43
I do not understand why they did not talk more to us, after all it
was we who used the water. We, and our fathers, knew everything
about problems related to irrigation systems. It is our life. Every
day we work with the water. Of course we could have contributed
a lot of experience and knowledge. In such sensitive matters one
has to start with a dialogue. However, traditionally, things have
always been done above our heads. 44
37
[
They are going to take
the water from us ]