A Sociological Perspective on an Engineering Issue: Social Consequences of Water Transfer Projects in the Province of Origin

Abstract

The issue of "water" has become a critical social subject due to its scarcity, determinism, and uneven distribution in Iran. In recent decades, water engineering and water-based development initiatives, such as "inter-basin transfer" projects, have significantly expanded. These projects are defined and implemented based on water abundance in certain areas and scarcity in others, yet they often lack a multidimensional perspective. While extensively studied within natural and technical sciences, the side effects of these engineering projects have gradually emerged in other domains, particularly in social dimensions. This article aims to comprehensively study and identify the social effects and consequences of water transfer projects post-implementation in the source regions, utilizing "grounded theory" as the research methodology. The province selected for this study is considered the most affected by water transfer in terms of tension. An analysis of data from documents, interviews, cyberspace, articles, and surveys indicates that these regions are significantly impacted by the social consequences of the projects, particularly in terms of justice and social welfare. The findings reveal a broad impact on various aspects of life for people living in the implementation areas, including political, cultural, and economic dimensions. This impact is especially notable in the realms of citizenship, inequality, and social justice, demonstrating that water issues are inherently multifaceted and interdisciplinary.