1. Multi purpose
river projects and
integrated water
resources
management
Atharva, Avishi, Gayatri, Ishani,
Leena, Nehal, Nikita
2. Building
hydraulic
structures
• A commonly adapted solution for water
conservation going way back to the first
century BCE
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
3. History and
Hydraulic
Constructions
• 1st Century BCE- Sringaverapura, Andhra Pradesh
• Water harvesting system
• Comprises three percolation-cum-storage tanks, fed by an 11 m wide
and 5 m deep canal that used to skim the floodwaters off the Ganga.
• Water from the canal first entered a silting chamber where the dirt
settled. This relatively clean water was then directed to the first brick-
lined tank (Tank A), then through a stepped inlet (which cleaned the
water further) on to Tank B. This tank constituted the primary source of
water supply. Next, the water passed to a circular Tank C, which had
an elaborate staircase. An elaborate waste weir, consisting of seven
spill channels, a crest, and a final exit, ensured that the excess water
flowed back into the Ganga.
5. DAMS
Spillway: created to ensure that excess
water, if accumulated, can be emptied
thereby not degrading the dam itself
Material used:
- Timber dams
- Embankment dams
- Mansory dams
Height:
- Large/Major dams
- Low dams
- Medium height dams
- High dams
6. Uses of Dams
Electricity generation
(hydropower)
Irrigation/
Domestic water
supply
Flood control,
inland navigation
Fish breeding,
Recreation
7. DAMS AND
CONFLICT
• Construction of a dam requires major
displacement of people around it
• Displacement => livelihoods lost
• Deforestation and pollution
10. 1. THIS MAY ALSO LEAD TO EXCESSIVE
SEDIMENTATION MAKING THE RIVER
BEDS ROCKIER AND POOR HABITATS
FOR AQUATIC LIFE.
• DAMS FRAGMENT RIVERS MAKING IT HARD
FOR AQUATIC ANIMALS TO MIGRATE.
11. • SINCE WATER IS AVAILABLE IN
LARGE QUANTITIES, FARMERS
GROW WATER INTENSIVE
CROPS.
• THIS CHANGE IN CROPPING AND
IRRIAGTION LEADS TO
SALINISATION OF SOIL.
12. 1. IT ALSO SUBMERGES VEGETATION
LEADING TO SOIL DEGRADATION
13. 1. BIG DAMS THAT HAVE BEEN
CONSTRUCTED TO RESTRICT FLOODS
HAVE FAILED TO DO SO BECAUSE OF
EXCESSIVE SEDIMENTATION.
• EG- MAHARASHTRA AND
GUJRAT (2006)
14. SOCIAL
REASONS
1. A SOCIAL REASON ASSOCIATED
WITH THE OPPOSION IS THAT A
LARGE AMOUNT OF LOCALS GET
DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES
AND VILLAGES.
15. • IT INCREASE THE GAP BETWEEN THE RICH
LANDLORDS AND THE LANDLESS POOR,
THUS LEADING TO SOCIAL CONFLICTS.
17. • THE BUILDING OF THE SARDAR SAROVAR DAM WAS MUCH
DISPUTED BECAUSE ENVIRONMENTALISTS BELIEVED IT
WOULD SUBMERGE COUNTLESS TREES.
• THIS LED TO THE
NARMADA BACHAO
ANDOLAN, WHICH WAS
ORGANISED BY A NGO
AGAINST THE
CONSTRUCTION OF
THE DAM.
• EVEN AFTER IT’S
CONSTRUCTION, FARMERS
ALMOST CAUSED A RIOT
BECAUSE OF THE
PREFERENCE GIVEN TO
URBAN AREAS FOR MORE
WATER SUPPLY
Act as a barrier for flowing water
Block or retard water flow
Jawaharlal Nehru proudly proclaimed the dams as the ‘temples of modern India’; the reason being that it would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
