Question.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.
( Chapter - 3 -Water Resources, Cass X NCERT Contemporary India -II )
Answer.
Nowadays, large river dams are also called multi-purpose river projects because large dams are used for many purposes such as irrigation, flood control, power generation, potable water storage, inland navigation, groundwater recharging, and enriching flora and fauna.
There are several advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects which are listed below:
Benefits of Multi-Purpose River Projects:
Multi-purpose river projects are used for the following -
- to make electricity.
- for irrigation.
- for drinking water.
- for fishing.
- Inland navigation (water traffic).
- flood control.
The multi-purpose river projects are used to generate hydroelectric power which runs many industries.
Multi-purpose river projects are used for irrigation which can be used in arid and semi-arid areas. For example, the Sardar Sarovar Dam benefited 9,490 villages in Gujarat and 124 villages in Rajasthan.
The multi-purpose river project provides potable water to many towns and cities and also provides water to industries.
A multi-purpose project of fish farming is used.
Mahanadi river is called the Sorrow of Odisha because it causes a lot of destruction due to floods. But after the construction of Hirakud Dam, today the damage from floods is less. So, multi-purpose river projects are also used for flood control.
Despite the above advantages of multipurpose river projects, there are also several disadvantages which are listed below:
Dams often fragment wildlife habitats, making it difficult to migrate and reducing food sources. Due to this, there is a decrease in forests and wildlife.
Due to the construction of the dam, large-scale forests are submerged. For example, since 1951, about 5000 sq km of India's forest has been submerged due to multi-purpose river projects.
Decomposition of vegetation in deep water in the absence of oxygen releases methane which is also a greenhouse gas. For example, Rihand Dam in Renukoot (Uttar Pradesh) and Hirakud Dam are the main sources of methane emissions in India.
Big dams also cause disasters like floods and earthquakes.
The construction of a dam on a river reduces the flow and sedimentation of the river, causing fewer sediments to flow into the stream below the dam and depositing more sediment at the bottom of the reservoir. The base of the river stream below the dam becomes rocky which becomes less useful for aquatic organisms. Causes poor habitat for aquatic life in the river as well as the estuary [sea life].
Multi-purpose river projects cause massive migration. especially tribal communities.
Large-scale displacement of local communities by the construction of large dams lead to environmental movements such as the "Narmada Bachao Andolan" and the "Tehri Dam Movement".
Multi-purpose river projects often benefit rich people such as big farmers, industrialists, and urban centers more than poor people such as landless farmers. Due to this the distance between the rich and poor increases.
Multi-purpose river projects also increase conflicts between people and states who seek different uses and benefits from the same water resources. For example, the Kaveri Multi-Purpose River Project has created a water-sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
You may like also:
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon