Participación ciudadana anticipada en proyectos de riego en Chile

Abstract

In the State’s projects, such as irrigation projects, anticipated citizen participation processes are considered, which can be an excellent way to ensure that the design of the projects will be in accordance with the needs of their potential beneficiaries and adequate for the local reality. In the same way, participatory processes can be an adequate way to management existing controversies in the territories, the perception of few instances of participation and involvement of the inhabitants in decision-making, and thus adequately manage the potential socio-environmental conflicts associated with water infrastructure, works potentially conflictive due to their nature. This article gives an account of some experiences and the evolution of the participatory processes developed by the National Irrigation Commission (CNR) in its studies and projects and the reduction of conflicts in the territories.