Passage 4:
In India, authorities always look to store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs during the monsoon season, which is then used for irrigation and generation of electricity during the summer months. It is an internationally accepted practice that the water level of a reservoir should be kept below a certain level before the onset of monsoon season. This is so that when monsoon rains come, there is space to store the excess rainwater and also so that water can be released in a regulated manner. But the authorities store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs even before the close of the monsoon, only to ensure greater electricity generation and irrigation.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. High risks involved in holding maximum water in reservoirs are due to our over-dependence on hydropower projects.
2. Storage capacity of dams should not be fully used before or during monsoon season.
3. Role of dams in flood control is underestimated in India.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Question

Passage 4:
In India, authorities always look to store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs during the monsoon season, which is then used for irrigation and generation of electricity during the summer months. It is an internationally accepted practice that the water level of a reservoir should be kept below a certain level before the onset of monsoon season. This is so that when monsoon rains come, there is space to store the excess rainwater and also so that water can be released in a regulated manner. But the authorities store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs even before the close of the monsoon, only to ensure greater electricity generation and irrigation.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. High risks involved in holding maximum water in reservoirs are due to our over-dependence on hydropower projects.
2. Storage capacity of dams should not be fully used before or during monsoon season.
3. Role of dams in flood control is underestimated in India.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: (b) 2 only Let us analyze the assumptions made in Passage 4 regarding reservoir water management: 1. High risks involved in holding maximum water in reservoirs are due to our over-dependence on hydropower projects: The passage states authorities store maximum water for electricity and irrigation, but does not attribute the risks to an 'over-dependence on hydropower projects' as a generalized root cause. Hence, assumption 1 is invalid. 2. Storage capacity of dams should not be fully used before or during monsoon season: The passage explicitly states that internationally accepted practice dictates keeping water levels below a certain level before monsoon to store excess rainwater and regulate release, cautioning against filling reservoirs too early. Thus, assumption 2 is valid. 3. Role of dams in flood control is underestimated in India: The passage discusses improper water storage timing leading to risks, but does not comment on whether the role of dams in flood control is underestimated in general. Therefore, only assumption 2 is valid.

हिंदी में प्रश्न एवं आदर्श उत्तर