What is a dam? Why do we seek to build large dams? While building large dams, which three main problems should particularly be addressed to maintain peace among local people? Mention them.

Q: What is a dam? Why do we seek to build large dams? While building large dams, which three main problems should particularly be addressed to maintain peace among local people? Mention them.

**1. What is a dam?** A dam is a barrier built across a river or stream to obstruct, restrict, or retain the flow of water, creating a large reservoir or lake behind it. **2. Why do we seek to build large dams?** We build large dams to achieve several key developmental goals: * **Hydroelectric Power Generation:** To harness the kinetic energy of falling water to rotate turbines and generate clean electricity. * **Irrigation:** To store water and distribute it through canal networks to agricultural fields, ensuring crop survival during dry seasons. * **Water Supply and Flood Control:** To provide a reliable source of drinking and industrial water, and to regulate river flow to prevent downstream flooding. **3. Three main problems to be addressed to maintain peace among local people:** * **Social Problems:** Large dams displace vast numbers of local peasants and tribal communities without adequate compensation or proper rehabilitation, stripping them of their homes and livelihoods. * **Economic Problems:** They consume enormous amounts of public funds without delivering proportionate benefits to the local population, often benefiting only a select group of wealthy farmers and industrialists. * **Environmental Problems:** They lead to massive deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and ecological imbalance as vast tracts of forest and fertile agricultural land are permanently submerged under the reservoir water.

Our Environment

How do our Activities Affect the Environment

Official Answer

1. What is a dam?

A dam is a barrier built across a river or stream to obstruct, restrict, or retain the flow of water, creating a large reservoir or lake behind it.

2. Why do we seek to build large dams?

We build large dams to achieve several key developmental goals:

Hydroelectric Power Generation: To harness the kinetic energy of falling water to rotate turbines and generate clean electricity.
Irrigation: To store water and distribute it through canal networks to agricultural fields, ensuring crop survival during dry seasons.
Water Supply and Flood Control: To provide a reliable source of drinking and industrial water, and to regulate river flow to prevent downstream flooding.

3. Three main problems to be addressed to maintain peace among local people:

Social Problems: Large dams displace vast numbers of local peasants and tribal communities without adequate compensation or proper rehabilitation, stripping them of their homes and livelihoods.
Economic Problems: They consume enormous amounts of public funds without delivering proportionate benefits to the local population, often benefiting only a select group of wealthy farmers and industrialists.
Environmental Problems: They lead to massive deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and ecological imbalance as vast tracts of forest and fertile agricultural land are permanently submerged under the reservoir water.

DamReservoirHydroelectric powerIrrigationSocial problemsDisplacementEconomic problemsPublic fundsEnvironmental problemsSubmergenceDeforestation

Marking Scheme

1Definition of a dam: 1 mark
2Reasons for building large dams (any two): 1 mark
3Three main problems (Social, Economic, Environmental explained): 3 marks (1 mark for each)

Hint

Define a dam as a water barrier. List its benefits like electricity and irrigation. For the three problems, think about social displacement, high public cost, and environmental submergence of forests.

Quick Oral Answer

A dam is a barrier across a river to store water. We build them for irrigation and electricity. The three main problems are social (displacement of people), economic (high cost with unequal benefits), and environmental (deforestation and habitat loss).

Analysis & Explanation

Dams are multipurpose projects, but their construction comes with significant socio-economic and environmental trade-offs. The social conflict arises because the local communities bear the immediate costs (displacement, loss of land, loss of livelihood) while the benefits (electricity, irrigation water) are often transported to distant urban centers or wealthy agricultural zones. To maintain peace and ensure justice, rehabilitation must be comprehensive, economic benefits must be shared equitably, and environmental impact assessments must be strictly followed to minimize ecological damage.

Common Mistakes

1Only listing the names of the three problems (Social, Economic, Environmental) without explaining how they affect local people or the environment.
2Confusing the benefits of dams with their disadvantages.

Interesting Facts

The construction of the Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi River and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River faced massive protests (like the Narmada Bachao Andolan) due to the displacement of local communities and environmental concerns.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2018?

This question carries 5 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 examination.

Which chapter does this question come from in Science?

This question is from the chapter "Our Environment" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.

What topic does this question cover in Science?

This question covers the topic "How do our Activities Affect the Environment" from CBSE Class 10 Science.

What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 paper?

This is a Long Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2018 paper.