Primary Advantage of Big Dam Construction
Big dams are significant infrastructure projects with various functions. Evaluating the options reveals the most crucial benefit.
Analyzing Option Advantages
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Option 1: Prevention of all downstream flooding
This is incorrect. Dams significantly aid in flood control by regulating water flow, but they cannot guarantee the prevention of *all* downstream flooding, especially during extreme weather events.
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Option 2: Immediate increase in local biodiversity
This is incorrect. The construction of a dam drastically alters the river's ecosystem. While long-term ecological changes can occur, an *immediate* increase in local biodiversity is unlikely; habitat disruption is common.
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Option 3: Generation of hydroelectric power
This is correct. A principal reason for constructing large dams is to create reservoirs whose water can be released through turbines to generate substantial amounts of electricity, known as hydroelectric power. This is a key function of many major dams worldwide.
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Option 4: Decentralised energy production
This is incorrect. Big dams produce large-scale, centralized power. Decentralised energy production typically refers to smaller, localized sources like rooftop solar panels or small wind turbines.
Therefore, the generation of hydroelectric power is a primary advantage of constructing a big dam.
Important Questions from Environment & Ecology
- The United Nations Carbon Offset Platform is an e-commerce platform to compensate greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon credits. Who among the following can buy these carbon credits?
1. A company
2. An organization
3. A citizen
Select the answer using the code given below. - Read the below statements and choose the correct option:
Statement 1: India's first initiative to track Fishing Cats through radio-collars has been introduced at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Statement 2: Fishing Cats are primarily found in coastal wetlands and mangrove ecosystems. - Which range is known for its rich biodiversity and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was a result of which global conference?
- How many riverine dolphins were estimated to be present across the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus River systems in India according to the country's first-ever detailed dolphin population survey released in March 2025?
