Question

(a) State the advantages of constructing dams across the rivers?
(b) Describe some of the problems associated with the construction of dams.

Answer 1

(a) Following are the advantages of constructing dams across the rivers:

• They can store excess water, thereby preventing floods.
• Water from the dams can be used for the irrigation of crops via a network of canals.
• After a suitable treatment, people of towns and cities get dam water through pipelines, for usage.
• Water falling from the dams is used to generate electricity in hydropower plants.

(b) Following problems are associated with building dams:

• Social problems: It makes many people homeless, by submerging large areas of human- settlements, thereby causing a social issue.
• Environmental problems: It causes deforestation and loss of biodiversity by submerging large varieties of plants and animals. This creates an ecological imbalance.
• Economic problems: This is an issue raised by many people who consider that the construction of dams needs a large amount of public money and there are no proportionate benefits.