External stakeholder influence leading to conflicts in irrigation projects : a narrative analysis

Abstract

Irrigation construction contracts are unique and outstand from building and civil engineering constructions mainly due to the large extent of landmass occupied after completion and an excessive amount of environmental impact. The negative influences from external stakeholders to an irrigation project can severely obstruct its implementation. Such obstruction will cause cost overruns and exceeded time schedules due to conflicts and controversies concerning project performance. A case study based narrative analyses referring to four projects have been undertaken to investigate the social, financial, and environmental causes leading to conflicts between the project entities of the irrigation projects and external stakeholders in Sri Lanka in the actual irrigation project context. Therefore, a qualitative research approach was adopted and narrative analysis was carried out to identify stakeholders and their influence on the projects studied. The public protests, Department of Forest Conservation objection to release forest land and Government policy changes were the critical conflicts that made major influence to the Contract due to poor stakeholder management between government agencies mainly between Central Environment Agency, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Department of Forest Conservation and the public. The case studies show that an evaluation of stakeholder demands and influence should be considered as a necessary and important step in the planning, implementation, and completion of irrigation projects.