Bhadbhut project across river Narmada in Bharuch is meant to solve freshwater problems has various repercussions for the environment. Discuss (200 Words)
Refer - The Indian Express
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IAS Parliament 4 years
KEY POINTS
· Bhadbhut project is planned to be a 1.7-km causeway-cum-weir barrage with 90 gates, across the river Narmada, 5 km from Bhadbhut village, and 25 km from the mouth of the river, where it flows into the Gulf of Khambhat.
· The barrage will stop most of the excess water flowing out of the Sardar Sarovar Dam from reaching the sea and thus create a “sweet water lake”.
· The main purpose of the project is to prevent salinity ingress. Due to the reduced flow of fresh water, saline seawater gushes into the Narmada estuary during high tide, thus increasing salinity along the banks.
· The sweet water from the reservoir will aim to meet the residential and industrial water requirements of Bharuch, Ankleshwar and Dahej.
· The barrage is expected to interfere with the migration and breeding cycle of hilsa. A marine fish, hilsa migrate upstream and arrives in the brackish water of the Narmada estuary near Bharuch for spawning usually during the monsoon months of July and August, and continue doing so till November. Once the barrage is built, it is expected to block their natural entry.
· Fishermen in Bhadbhut village told that the hilsa catch between July and September every year has dropped to 10-15 fish a day from the earlier 50-100 a day.
· The barrage will have a fishermen navigation channel that will allow fishermen owning boats and living upstream on the Narmada beyond the barrage to get access to the sea. This channel will be about 10-15 metres wide and will have a gate that can be opened and shut as necessary.
· Part of Aliya Bet, and island in the delta of the Narmada and known for shrimp farming, is likely to get submerged. A portion of the forest in Aliya Bet too will get affected by the project. Most of the Aliya Bet is downstream from the barrage.
Dr Younis Bashir 4 years
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IAS Parliament 4 years
Good attempt. Try to cut short the introduction part. Keep Writing.
Sastikasuresh 4 years
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IAS Parliament 4 years
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K. V. A 4 years
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IAS Parliament 4 years
Good attempt. Keep Writing.