Multi-purpose river projects are referred to as the 'temples of modern India.' Elucidate.

OR

How have multipurpose projects and large dams been the cause of many new social movements?

Multipurpose river projects were initiated after independence. It was an integrated water resource management undertaken for the development and progress of the nation. After the independence, India was suffering from acute poverty, illiteracy, unemployment because of the economic draining policy by the British regime in the colonial past.

The dams were referred to as temples of India by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru because:

1. Water was needed severely to strengthen the agriculture system. The dams would help water to reach out to the villages which were suffering from poor rainfall.

2. This would develop the agriculture and village economy with rapid industrialization.

OR

Multipurpose river projects were initiated after independence. It was an integrated water resource management undertaken for the development and progress of the nation. After the independence, India was suffering from acute poverty, illiteracy, unemployment because of the economic draining policy by the British regime in the colonial past.

In the past, there were movements like Narmada Bachao Aandolan and Tehri Dam Andolan etc. The main reason behind these movements were the personal losses caused to the regional people due to the construction of the respective dams. The locals on a large scale were displaced and had to give up their land and livelihood.