The pros are demonstrated in the following possible benefits and uses of the multi-purpose river valley projects:

provides work

eliminates flooding

provides power & water for human consumption

helps to conserve water

provides water for agriculture & industrial uses

provides for a fishery

changes the ecology of the region

opens new areas to agriculture 

CONS MAY INCLUDE:

they lead to the displacement of human, plants, animals, chiefly from small tribal communities.

disrupt downstream fisheries. 

increase the risk of earthquakes. 

submerge forest land.

increase the spread of insect-borne diseases.

threaten the fragile regional ecosystem

These projects initially devastate human lives and biodiversity by inundating thousands of acres of forests and agricultural land. 

They degrade the fertile agricultural soils due to continuous irrigation (rather the seasonal irrigation which is dependent on the monsoon), and salinization, making the soil toxic to many plant species.

Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River, and is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India .The dam, located at a gorge near the (now submerged) upstream Bhakra village in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, is India's second tallest at 225.55 m (740 ft) high next to the 261m Tehri Dam The length of the dam (measured from the road above it) is 518.25 m; it is 9.1 m broad. Its reservoir, known as the "Gobind Sagar", stores up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water, enough to drain the whole of Chandigarh, parts of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. The 90 km long reservoir created by the Bhakra Dam is spread over an area of 168.35 km2. In terms of storage of water, it withholds the second largest reservoir in India, the first being Indira Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh with capacity of 12.22 billion cu m.

The dam was constructed with an aim to provide irrigation to Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Another reason behind the construction of the dam was to prevent damage due to monsoon floods. The dam provides irrigation to 10 million acres (40,000 km²) of fields in Punjab ,Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. It also has five flood gates to control floods.

Being the Second highest dam in India, it attracts a large number of tourists who visit its reservoir and attractive location. The distance between the Ganguwal and Bhakra Dam is about 30–35 km.

DAMODAR RIVER VALLEY PROJECTDAMODAR RIVER VALLEY PROJECT

First river valley project of free india.First river valley project of free india.

Damodar is a small river tributary to the Hugli River mostly called, 'sorrow of Bengal’. Damodar is a small river tributary to the Hugli River mostly called, 'sorrow of Bengal’.

The project involves compact, unified multipurpose river basin develop ment program .The project involves compact, unified multipurpose river basin develop ment program .

The Damodar Valley Project has total installed capacity of generating The Damodar Valley Project has total installed capacity of generating

1181 mw of electricity .1181 mw of electricity .

providing irrigation facilities to 5.15 lakh hectares of agricultural area. providing irrigation facilities to 5.15 lakh hectares of agricultural area.

development of24,235 square km of adjoining area covering industrial belt ofdevelopment of24,235 square km of adjoining area covering industrial belt of

Bihar and West Bengal and rural areas of Patna, Gaya, Shahabad, SinghbhumBihar and West Bengal and rural areas of Patna, Gaya, Shahabad, Singhbhum

(Bihar) and Medinipur (West Bengal), districts. (Bihar) and Medinipur (West Bengal), districts. 

PROS OF DAMODAR RIVER VALLEY PROJECTPROS OF DAMODAR RIVER VALLEY PROJECT

erosion-resisting structures like Adivasi, Deochanda, Bachhi and Gauria erosion-resisting structures like Adivasi, Deochanda, Bachhi and Gauria

Karma dams built in the catch ment area to hold back rain water and prevent Karma dams built in the catch ment area to hold back rain water and prevent

gully erosion.gully erosion.

scientific regeneration of denuded forests.scientific regeneration of denuded forests.

large-scale plantation of timber, mulberry and other fast growing trees.large-scale plantation of timber, mulberry and other fast growing trees.

promotion of culture.promotion of culture.

development of aqua-culture in the reservoirs of the D.V.C. development of aqua-culture in the reservoirs of the D.V.C. 

development of paper metallurgical, engineering, aluminium, development of paper metallurgical, engineering, aluminium,

cement and other industriescement and other industries

promotion of tourism, horticulture and dairying.promotion of tourism, horticulture and dairying.

CONS OF DAMODAR RIVER VALLEY PROJECTCONS OF DAMODAR RIVER VALLEY PROJECT

adverse impact of release of water from over flowing dams in the hinterland.adverse impact of release of water from over flowing dams in the hinterland.

  the displacement of person evicted from the construction areas of the dam.the displacement of person evicted from the construction areas of the dam.

  inadequate provision for rehabilitation of displaced societies and loss of their inadequate provision for rehabilitation of displaced societies and loss of their

livelihood.livelihood.

the cost of construction and maintenance of dams, especially if these are managed the cost of construction and maintenance of dams, especially if these are managed

inefficiently by the private sector.inefficiently by the private sector.

Many estuary based fisheries and river based fisheries Many estuary based fisheries and river based fisheries

have been either damaged, or destroyed. have been either damaged, or destroyed.

The Narmada Valley Development Project is the single largest river development scheme in India.

It is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the world and will displace approximately 1.5 million people from their land in three states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh)

the project involves the construction of several dams, the largest of them being ‘Sardar Sarover’ which is being built on the east side of Gujarat, it will submerge 40,000 hectares of land and is will also become the second largest dam. 

The project will supply domestic and industrial water to The project will supply domestic and industrial water to

around 30 million people and will also irrigate crops that around 30 million people and will also irrigate crops that

could potentially feed up to 20 million peoplecould potentially feed up to 20 million people

The project will provide electricity in areas with high unmet The project will provide electricity in areas with high unmet

need, for instance, farm pumps usually get only a handful of need, for instance, farm pumps usually get only a handful of

hours power every day, continuous electricity would hours power every day, continuous electricity would

definitely result in more productive and quantitative definitely result in more productive and quantitative

produce.produce.

Most importantly, it would produce immense economic Most importantly, it would produce immense economic

opportunities – it has a potential to employ 1 million people. opportunities – it has a potential to employ 1 million people.

It would also result in an economic multiplier effect, that is, It would also result in an economic multiplier effect, that is,

investment and employment stirred by the dam investment and employment stirred by the dam

developmentdevelopment..

• The project can potentially displace around 300,000 people, disrupt The project can potentially displace around 300,000 people, disrupt

fisheries, increase the risk of earthquakes, inundate forest lands fisheries, increase the risk of earthquakes, inundate forest lands

and cause a rise in insect-borne diseases.and cause a rise in insect-borne diseases.