Explain any three reasons for which the multi-purpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and opposition in the recent years.

1. Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.

2. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.

3. The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of time.

NOTE - In addition to the above reasons, multi-purpose projects and large dams have been scrutinized due to large-scale displacement of local communities. Local people are often forced to give up their land, livelihood and their meager access and control over resources. Social movements like ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan and the Tehri Dam Andolan’ have mainly risen because of resistance towards such mega projects.