Question

Write any four demerits of multi-purpose river projects.

Answer 1

Hint: Multipurpose projects are essentially intended for the improvement of the water system for agriculture and power through the development of dams.

Complete answer: Multipurpose projects, begun after independence along with the integrated water resource management approach, were considered as the vehicle that would lead the country to improvement and progress. However, multipurpose undertakings and huge dams have been greatly scrutinised for a variety of reasons

- The multi-purpose projects have neglected to infer the most extreme advantage in regard to flood control as the banks, seepage channels and flood insurance plans have flopped hopelessly to accomplish results.
- It has been contended that irrigation benefits inferred out of the multi-purpose projects are misrepresented on the grounds that the real region irrigated by these projects is substantially less because of the delay in the construction of field channels and watercourses. Besides, delay in the culmination of these activities has brought about a high acceleration of its price.
- In spite of the fact that hydropower is having the upside of low working cost, sustainable source and eco-friendly simultaneously it is likewise exposed to the long incubation period, delay in commissioning the project which further heightens the project cost and higher beginning expense. All these have brought about a nearly higher unit cost of generating hydropower.
- Controlling and damming of rivers influence their common flow causing inadequate sediment flow and extreme sedimentation at the lower part of the reservoir, bringing about rockier stream beds and less fortunate environments for the rivers' aquatic life.

Note: Bhakra-Nangal Project is the largest multipurpose project built across river Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh. With a height of 225.5 metres, it is considered to be the highest straight gravity dam in the whole world.