Skip to content

Business Quote by Arundhati Roy

“From being a dream, dams have become a very cynical corrupt enterprise; a way of letting governments lay their hands on huge sums of money; a way of centralizing resources; a way of snatching rivers away from the poor and giving them to the rich. And so in a sense they've become monuments to…” quote by Arundhati Roy
Download Open image
“From being a dream, dams have become a very cynical corrupt enterprise; a way of letting governments lay their hands on huge sums of money; a way of centralizing resources; a way of snatching rivers away from the poor and giving them to the rich. And so in a sense they've become monuments to corruption.”

Arundhati Roy

About This Quote

Source Essay: The River of Life, Arundhati Roy, 2005

Large dams often become tools of corruption, diverting resources from the poor to the wealthy, turning infrastructure into symbols of exploitation.

In simple terms: Dams can exploit the poor for profit.

Key Takeaway

Question the motives behind large water projects.

Themes

environment politics social justice corruption development

Mood

concerned analytical urgent

Type

political environmental

When to use this quote

  • government planning
  • community activism
  • legal challenges

Key Concepts

resource allocation power dynamics public policy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What safeguards can prevent misuse of dam projects?
  • How can affected communities have a voice?
A Different Perspective

Not all dams are corrupt; some provide essential services.

2.6 out of 5 (3 ratings)

More by Arundhati Roy

Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes

More Business quotes

Browse all 39,016 Business quotes