Exercise 5 : Question 13 (60)

Give your opinion about whether hydro electric plants are environment friendly or not?
Since no fuel is burnt in a hydroelectric plant, there is no air pollution due to the combustion of fuel. It is thus a green energy. However, the back-water storage may submerge villages or towns in the catchment area. This leads to the problems of re-habilitation of the displaced population. Moreover, this can also submerge forests as well as fertile land. The obstruction to the natural flow of river water may have adverse effect on living world in the river. Many rare species of plants and animals are threatened because of the destruction of forests. If these problems are taken care of, hydroelectric power plants can indeed become environment friendly.

Give your opinion about whether hydro electric plants are environment friendly or not?

Since no fuel is burnt in a hydroelectric plant, there is no air pollution due to the combustion of fuel. It is thus a green energy.
However, the back-water storage may submerge villages or towns in the catchment area. This leads to the problems of re-habilitation of the displaced population.
Moreover, this can also submerge forests as well as fertile land.
The obstruction to the natural flow of river water may have adverse effect on living world in the river.
Many rare species of plants and animals are threatened because of the destruction of forests.
If these problems are taken care of, hydroelectric power plants can indeed become environment friendly.

Watch Video (7:25):
A video of ‘Narmada Bachao Aandolan’ showing that the problems faced in the rehabilitation of people continue even after more than 30 years.