Page 3 - 2.Lesson Notes-Sustainable Management, Water for All

DAMS

 Dams are large water bodies that are built by government agencies across the rivers
to regulate the flow of water, storage of adequate water and generate electricity.
 Canal systems leading from these dams can transfer large amounts of water over
great distances. For example, the Indira Gandhi Canal has brought greenery to
considerable areas of Rajasthan.
 However, mismanagement of the water has largely led to the benefits being
cornered by a few people. There is no equitable distribution of water, thus people
close to the source grow water intensive crops like sugarcane and rice while people
farther downstream do not get any water.
 There is opposition to construction of large dams, such as the Tehri Dam on the river
Ganga.
 The Narmada Bachao Andolan (‘Save the Narmada Movement’) about raising the
height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada.

The advantages of dams are as follows-
 They ensure adequate amount of water for irrigation through a canal.
 Water in dams is used for generating electricity.
 They ensure uninterrupted water supply.

Problems caused by the construction of large dams are as follows-
(i) Social problems because they displace large number of peasants and tribals
without adequate compensation or rehabilitation,
(ii) Economic problems because they swallow up huge amounts of public money
without the generation of proportionate benefits.
(iii) Environmental problems because they contribute enormously to deforestation
and the loss of biological diversity.
(iv) The oustees of the Tawa Dam built in the 1970s are still fighting for the benefits
they were promised.

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