Page 1 - LN- Sub Topic-6

SAI International School
Grade-IX, Sub- Geography

Ch3- Drainage
Sub Topic 6- Role of Rivers in the Economy

Sub-topics Lesson Notes

(Roles of Role of rivers in the economy
Rivers in the
Economy- • Rivers are natural sources of water is a basic resource for life and various
page no 22) human activities.
• Settlements on the river banks have developed into cities. Most of the primate
and the modern cities of the world are located the river banks.

• Rivers are used for irrigation and all vital for India where agriculture is the major
source of livelihood for majority of its population.

• Many of the rivers of India are navigable and help in inland transport and trade.
For example River Hugli has a river port and even facilitates sea trade.

• Rivers are used for hydro-power generation which is an essential requirement
for the development of each economic sector.
• Industrialization is not possible without water. So rivers provide water to the
industries and help in industrializations.

River Pollution
River pollution refers to the contamination of river water mainly due to the
human activities.
Causes of River Pollution

• Quality of river water is affected by the growing urbanization. Untreated
drainage, sewage and other urban wastes are emptied into the river affecting its
quality and its self-cleansing property.

• Industries are major source of river pollution as untreated industrial effluents are
also discharged into the nearby rivers.
• Modernization and expansion of agriculture leads to more use of bio-chemical
inputs which eventually flow into the water bodies with the tale water of irrigation
and pollute it.

• In India people perform many religious rituals in the rivers that greatly affect its
quality.

• In rural areas some rural activities like defecation, bathing of animals etc. affects
the quality of the river water.
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)