Renting Submerged Land for Sustainable Livelihood Rehabilitation of Resettled Families: Cases of Jintsu-gawa Dams in Japan

A unique rent scheme was adopted as a compensation scheme for resettlers of three small-scale dams constructed in the early 1950s along Jintsu-gawa in Toyama Prefecture of Japan. The electric power company of the district built these dams for hydropower generation. In the process of negotiations, representatives of the communities refused to sell their land but instead suggested that a rent scheme be adopted. The district electric power company agreed. This is the only such case to ever be materialized in the world, and the scheme has survived to date. Lessons from these cases may be applicable for future dam construction projects in the developing world.