There are numerous benefits of irrigation like increase in food production, development of the area and social upliftment of the people. One of the harmful effects of irrigation is
- Amosquito breeding and incidence of malariaCorrect
- Bcontrol of floods
- Cruralisation
- Dprotection from famine
Solution
Concept
Over-irrigation and seepage cause standing water, which helps mosquitoes breed and spreads malaria.
Step-by-step solution
1. List the benefits of irrigation: more food, flood control, protection from famine, area development. 2. List the harmful effects: waterlogging, salinity, mosquito breeding, malaria, cold and damp climate. 3. Only option A is a harmful effect. 4. Answer is A.
Explanation
Excess irrigation water and canal seepage leave water standing in fields and low areas. Mosquitoes breed in this still water, so malaria cases go up. This is a well-known ill-effect of irrigation.
Why the other options are wrong
B: Control of floods is a benefit, because dams and reservoirs store flood water. C: Ruralisation is not a standard harmful effect. Irrigation develops rural areas. D: Protection from famine is a main benefit of irrigation.
Shortcut
Pick the only option that sounds like a health or environmental problem.
Common mistake
Choosing 'ruralisation' thinking it is negative. Rural development is actually a benefit.
Correct answer: A) mosquito breeding and incidence of malaria