Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.
Multi-purpose river projects have several advantages. They bring water to areas suffering from water scarcity, help in flood control by regulating water flow, and generate electricity for industries and homes.
However, these projects have significant disadvantages. They affect the natural flow of rivers, causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the reservoir bottom. Dams fragment rivers, making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate for spawning. The reservoirs submerge existing vegetation and soil, leading to their decomposition over time. Additionally, these projects cause large scale displacements and loss of livelihood for people.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which lists advantages like water supply to scarce areas, flood control, and electricity generation. The disadvantages include ecological impacts (natural flow disruption, sedimentation, habitat destruction, fragmentation affecting aquatic life migration), and social impacts (displacement and loss of livelihood). The word count is approximately 100 words, suitable for a 3-mark short answer.