Why was the Three Gorges Dam delayed for nearly 40 years?

The delay of the Three Gorges Dam for nearly 40 years was primarily due to the Chinese government's struggle to reach a consensus regarding the project's significant risks and controversies.

While the concept was first discussed in the 1920s and gained momentum in the 1950s, the project faced persistent opposition from critics who raised several major concerns:

• Displacement: The project required the relocation of at least 1.3 million people, with some estimates suggesting the figure was as high as 1.9 million.
• Environmental and Safety Risks: There were widespread fears regarding the potential for dam collapse, the destruction of rare archaeological and architectural sites, and the pollution of the reservoir. Additionally, experts warned that the massive weight of the impounded water could trigger earthquakes and landslides.
• Alternative Solutions: Some engineers argued that smaller, less problematic dams on the Yangtze tributaries could provide similar flood control and power generation benefits without the associated risks.

These factors led to intense debate, and even when the project was finally ratified in 1992, it faced unprecedented political resistance and a refusal of funding from the World Bank due to environmental concerns.1