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Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of building more dams and reservoirs to manage water resources and provide hydroelectric power.
MODEL ESSAY / ANSWER
The construction of more dams and reservoirs is a contentious issue, with both significant advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, dams and reservoirs play a crucial role in managing water resources and generating hydroelectric power, which is a renewable and clean source of energy. However, they also have potential drawbacks, including environmental and social impacts.
One of the primary benefits of dams and reservoirs is their capacity to control water resources effectively. They can store water during periods of heavy rainfall, reducing the risk of floods. Additionally, this stored water can be used during dry seasons for irrigation, drinking, and other purposes, thereby ensuring a consistent water supply. Moreover, dams are instrumental in generating hydroelectric power, a renewable and non-polluting source of energy. This can significantly contribute to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change.
However, the construction of dams and reservoirs is not without its drawbacks. Environmentally, they can disrupt local ecosystems, affecting wildlife and plant species. The creation of a large reservoir can lead to the submersion of extensive areas, destroying habitats and potentially leading to the extinction of certain species. Additionally, the decomposing vegetation in the reservoir can produce greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming.
Socially, the construction of dams often involves the displacement of local communities, causing significant social disruption. People may lose their homes and lands, and the process of resettlement can be challenging and traumatic. Furthermore, the cost of building and maintaining dams and reservoirs is high, which can strain the economy, especially in developing countries.
In conclusion, while dams and reservoirs offer substantial benefits in terms of water management and renewable energy production, their environmental and social costs cannot be overlooked. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct thorough environmental and social impact assessments before embarking on such projects to ensure a balance between the benefits and the potential harm.
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View Detailed EvaluationThe construction of more dams and reservoirs is a serious issue. Although building dams is quite benificial to manage water resurces and also provide hydroelectricity which is a renewable source of energy, it also has potential drawbacks including social and environmental impacts. This essay will examine the significant advantages and disadvantages.
One of the primary benefits of dams is to manage water resouces. During the periods of heavy rainfall, the water resources are well managed, thus preventing floods. Also, in the dry season, water is stored in reservoirs which is used for irrigation, drinking and other purposes. Hydroelectric power which is a renewable and clean source of energy is produced which replaces the use of fossil fuels which can be exhausted.
The major drawback of building dam is the environmental impact. When dams are built, there are high chances of species extinction due to the submersion of extensive areas. This not only affects the wildlife but also the plant species. Their habitat is destroyed and animals are forced to either leave or to die, thus resulting in their extinction. Additionally, due to the construction of dams, there is displacement of local communities to other places. Whenever the topic of large dam projects is discussed, thousands of people are compelled to leave their homes and lands and resettlement is very traumatic and stressful. The cost of constructing a dam is very high thus affecting the economy of the country.
In conclusion, while dams and reservoirs have huge benefits in terms of managing water resources and renewable source of power, the social and economical costs cannot be overlooked. Hence, a thorough examination should be done before building a dam and the necessary assessments must be conducted before proceeding keeping in mind the social and environmental effects.