Question

How has the ever increasing number of industries in India made worse position by exerting pressure on exiting fresh water resources? Explain.

Answer 1

Post-independent India witnessed intensive industrialization and urbanization, creating vast opportunities. Today, large industrial houses are a common place as the industrial units of many MNCs. The ever-increasing number of industries has made matters worse by exerting pressure on existing freshwater resources in the following ways:-

• Industries especially heavy industries use a huge amount of fresh water for industrial purpose and pollute and waste such water.
• These industries for their energy consumption purpose depend on hydroelectric projects and this electricity is generated through damming the rivers upstream. So, the river almost dries in the lower stream areas.
• Thermal pollution of water occurs when hot-water from factories and thermal plants is drained into rivers and ponds before cooling.