Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The geographical and hydrological context of a river basin directly shapes the primary purpose of a multi-purpose project.

The Bhakra-Nangal project is located in the semi-arid Sutlej-Beas river basin, where water scarcity and the need for irrigation are the dominant concerns. Hence, its water is primarily used for hydel power production and irrigation to support agriculture in water-deficient areas.

The Hirakud project is located in the Mahanadi basin, which is flood-prone. Therefore, its primary focus is on integrating conservation of water with flood control, protecting the floodplain from recurring inundation.

Thus, water scarcity drives irrigation-focused design, while flood-prone geography demands flood regulation as the priority function.

Source: Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management, Chapter 3

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• The textbook explicitly states: "in the Sutlej-Beas river basin, the Bhakra–Nangal project water is being used both for hydel power production and irrigation" and "the Hirakud project in the Mahanadi basin integrates conservation of water with flood control."
• The examiner expects you to link geography/hydrology → problem → project purpose for both projects.
• Avoid just listing features; the question asks you to illustrate the principle — so state the principle first, then apply it to each project.
• 3 marks = ~3 clear points: the principle + one project + the other project.