Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.

Advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose projects.
(a) Advantages:
(1) Dams built under the multi-purpose projects help to irrigate agricultural fields.
(2) Multi-purpose projects help in generation of electricity. For example, the Bhakra- Nangal project is being used both for hydel power production and irrigation.
(3) It provides water supply for industry and domestic use.
(4) It helps to control flood. For example, the Hirakud project in the Mahanadi basin integrates conservation of water with flood control.
(5) These places have become places of recreation for the people.
(6) These projects are used for inland navigation.
(7) These projects have helped in fish breeding.
(8) ln view of the above advantages, the multi-purpose projects were thought of as the vehicle that would Iead the nation to development and progress. Jawaharlal Nehru proudly proclaimed the dams as the “temples of modern India” because it would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
(b) Disadvantages:
(1) It affects the natural flow of the river causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
(2) Dams fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
(3) The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of time.
(4) These projects lead to large-scale displacement of local communities who have to give up their land and livelihood. This in turn led to social movements like the,Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’.
(5) With irrigation facilities the farmers have changed their crops to water-intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like salinisation of the soil.
(6) It has transformed the social landscape i.e., increased the social gap between the richer landowners and the landless poor.
(7) It has led to conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water resources as has happened in Gujarat. Where the Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over higher priority given to water supply in urban area, particularly during droughts.
(8) Multi-purpose projects have led to interstate water disputes that are becoming common with regard to sharing the costs and benefits of these projects.