Page 164 - Volt Elevate The World Around Us Book 4

Design Your Own Water Reservoir

Draw a simple plan of a water reservoir with canals to supply water to a village or town. Label all
the parts of the reservoir and how water will be used from it.

Skills Covered: Organisation • Creativity • Visual expression

Case Study: The Bhakra Nangal Dam in Himachal Pradesh

The Bhakra Nangal Dam, built across the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh is one of the largest
dams in India. It was completed in 1963 and has played a major role in India’s development. The
dam created the Gobind Sagar Reservoir which stores huge amounts of water. This stored water
is supplied to fields in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan through canals, making these dry regions
fertile and suitable for farming. Apart from irrigation, the dam also provides drinking water to
nearby towns and generates hydroelectric power. It has helped control floods during heavy
rains by storing excess water. However, when the dam was constructed, many villages around
the Sutlej River were submerged, and people had to move to new places. This shows how dams
can be very useful, but also bring challenges for people and the environment.

Based on your understanding of the text, answer the following questions.
1. Why is the Bhakra Nangal Dam important for farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan?
2. What are two benefits and one challenge that came with the construction of the Bhakra
Nangal Dam?

3. If you were living in a village near the Sutlej River at the time of the dam’s construction,
how would you feel about shifting to a new place? Explain in one or two sentences.

Skills Covered: Critical thinking • Brainstorming • Environmental awareness

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