Question : Read the following information carefully and answer the given questions.
Big dams received a big push from politicians and bureaucracy pouring enormous amounts of borrowed money in the early years of Independence. There has however been hardly any attempt at questioning the extent of damage caused or in evaluating whether the promises of food, water and prosperity for all have actually been realised. The diversion of rivers and construction of a long system of canals in a densely populated country like India will involve displacement of people on a colossal scale and the people affected are never likely to agree with such measures. All over the world, community reaction is to prevent construction of large dams. Preserving rivers in free-flow condition is considered ecologically necessary and the construction of large dams is now legally prohibited in Sweden and also in parts of USA. The technical challenges to be faced in redrawing the geography of the country are many and full of dangerous consequences and the mad rush in pursuit of such a chimera will prove disastrous. The cost of the project is so stupendous that any water made available will cost so much that governments will have to be forever subsidizing farmers. What long-term impact this massive borrowing will have on the economy is difficult to foresee.
Question:
What are the factors which are mentioned in the passage as the disadvantages of the dams?
Option 1: The ecological imbalance caused due to diversion of rivers
Option 2: Shifting of population on a large scale
Option 3: The construction of dams is banned in Sweden
Option 4: Shifting of people on a large scale and ecological imbalance due to restrictions on the natural flow of rivers
Correct Answer: Shifting of people on a large scale and ecological imbalance due to restrictions on the natural flow of rivers
Solution : The correct answer is option 4.
Displacement of people on a large scale and ecological imbalance due to restrictions on the natural flow of rivers.
Explanation:
Let us look at the following passage lines:
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The diversion of rivers and construction of a long system of canals in a densely populated country like India will involve displacement of people on a colossal scale and the people affected are never likely to agree with such measures.
- Preserving rivers in free-flow condition is considered ecologically necessary and the construction of large dams is now legally prohibited in Sweden and a/so in parts of USA.
- As a result of the preceding, we can conclude that the correct answer is option 4