Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Large Dams/Barrages
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
This concept is central to the Environment & Ecology syllabus, sustainable development, balancing development with conservation, and understanding the long-term consequences of major infrastructure projects. It is directly relevant to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and policy formulation.
Large-scale river engineering projects like dams and barrages, while providing benefits like irrigation and hydropower, significantly alter riverine ecosystems and human livelihoods, leading to complex environmental and socio-economic consequences.
Facts & tables
- Project Objectives
- The Padma Barrage aims for irrigation (2.88 million ha) and hydropower generation (113 MW).
- Environmental Criticisms
- Critics warn of altered sediment flows, water-logging, and damage to fisheries.
- Performance Concerns
- Mega-barrages often underperform and can create new ecological problems.
- Global Contrast
- The trend of building more barriers in South Asia contrasts with Europe and North America tearing down obsolete dams to restore river free flow.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Environmental Impact Assessment |
| Conceptual area | Sustainable Development |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- Alters natural river flow, sediment transport, and water quality.
- Impacts aquatic biodiversity and fisheries.
- Potential for water-logging, salinity, and land degradation.
- Socio-economic effects: displacement, livelihood changes, water security.
- EIA is crucial for assessing and mitigating these impacts.
Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
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Environmental Impact Assessment
Conceptual area
-
Sustainable Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
What is Bangladesh’s Padma Barrage?
Examines the multifaceted effects of large river infrastructure on natural environments (hydrology, biodiversity) and human societies (displacement, livelihoods, water security), often involving trade-offs.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2016–2023 · 5 questions
In the news
What is Bangladesh’s Padma Barrage?
Examines the multifaceted effects of large river infrastructure on natural environments (hydrology, biodiversity) and human societies (displacement, livelihoods, water security), often involving trade-offs.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?
1. The river basin is the unit of planning and management.
2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
3. One of the Chief Ministers of the State through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on a rotation basis.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct. National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is the financing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Jal Shakti Ministry. Statement 2 is correct. The mission of the organisation is to safeguard the drainage basin which feeds water into the Ganges by protecting it from pollution or overuse. In July 2014, the NGRBA has been transferred from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Prime Minister is the chair of the Authority.
Other members include the cabinet ministers of ministries that include the Ganges among their direct concerns and the chief ministers of states through which the Ganges River flows.
Consider the following statements:
1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the report National Compilation on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India, 2017 of CGWA, out of the total 6881 assessment units (Blocks/Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 1186 units in various States (17%) have been categorized as Over-Exploited, 313 units (5%) as Critical, and 972 units (14%) as Semi-Critical. Statement 2 is correct: The CGWA was established in 1997 under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and manage groundwater resources. Statement 3 is correct: India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world. This is due to the country's heavy reliance on agriculture, which is predominantly rain-fed. Therefore, the correct answer is B. 2 and 3 only.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II :India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world's population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement 1 is correct. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, with an estimated 251 km3 annual withdrawal from an estimated 20 million wells and tube wells, India is the world's greatest groundwater user. This accounts for more than a quarter of the total groundwater extracted internationally. * Statement 2 is incorrect. India uses about 89% of this groundwater for irrigation. Major share of total groundwater extracted by India is utilised for irrigation purposes and not for drinking and sanitation purposes.
With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements :
1. None of them uses seawater.
2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district.
3. None of them is privately owned.
How many of the above statements are correct?
* Statement 1 is incorrect: The Mundra Thermal Power Plant employs a closed-cycle induced draft circulating cooling water system that utilises seawater. Seawater is drawn from the Gulf of Kutch through robust glass reinforced pipes of significant diameter. In addition, purified seawater from a reverse osmosis plant is utilised by various supplementary systems. * Statement 2 is incorrect: According to recent research by WRI (World Resources Institute), 40 percent of India's thermal power plants are situated in regions experiencing significant water stress. This poses a challenge as these plants rely on water for cooling purposes. The scarcity of water is already causing disruptions in electricity generation in these areas, with 14 out of India's 20 largest thermal utilities having experienced at least one shutdown between 2013 and 2016 due to water shortages. * Statement 3 is incorrect: India has a total of 269 Thermal Power Plants, with 138 of them being owned by the public sector and the remaining 131 owned by the private sector.
It is possible to produce algae-based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry?
1. Production of algae-based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents.
2. Setting up and engineering the algae-based biofuel production requires a high level of expertise/technology until the construction is completed.
3. Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large scale facilities which may raise ecological and social concerns.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is incorrect. The production of algae-based biofuels is not limited to seas only. It can be done on land, saline water, or wastewater. Statement 2 is correct. Setting up and engineering the algae-based biofuel production does require a high level of expertise/technology, which might be a limitation for developing countries. Statement 3 is also correct. Economically viable production of algae-based biofuels does necessitate the setting up of large-scale facilities, which may raise ecological and social concerns.
Show 2 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
1. In India, the Biodiversity Management committees are key to the realization of the objectives of Nagoya Protocol.
2. The Biodiversity Management committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
* The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement that addresses the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources. It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and specifically focuses on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their utilisation. * Statement 1 is correct: In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are indeed key to the realisation of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. BMCs play a crucial role in this by ensuring that local communities have a say in the access to and use of these resources. * Statement 2 is correct: The Biodiversity Management Committees also have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing. They have the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within their jurisdiction. This is part of their role in managing and conserving biodiversity, and ensuring that the benefits derived from the use of these resources are shared equitably. Therefore, both statements are correct.
Which organization has enacted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss?
✅ A. The European Union:
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an EU legislative initiative adopted in 2024. It sets binding targets to restore ecosystems, fight climate change, and protect biodiversity across EU member states. ❌ B. The World Bank:
An international financial institution providing loans and grants; it does not enact laws like the NRL. ❌ C. OECD:
An organization promoting economic cooperation and policy coordination; it does not enact binding environmental laws such as the NRL. ❌ D. FAO:
A UN agency focused on hunger and agriculture; it does not enact regional laws like the NRL.