It helps agriculture
The river is of great help to farmers. In some countries, there are many rivers. Crops grow there in plenty. So famine is very rare there. Irrigation is possible easily where there is a river. Irrigation helps agriculture.
It makes the country healthy
The places by the side of a river are generally healthy. A country suffers from malaria and other diseases if there is no river in it.
If gives water
The river supplies us with drinking water. The water-works of the municipalities generally get their supply of water from rivers. We can bathe in a river. We can also wash our articles of daily use in it. Bathing in the river improves our health. It is very refreshing.
It helps trade and commerce
Rivers help our trade and commerce. Big ports grow on their banks. Formerly there were no railways. Roads also were very few. Almost all inland trade was carried on by means of boats. Merchants carried their goods in boats from one place to another. Even now our country boats and steamers carry jute, food grains, cotton and many other things from one place to another.
Rivers help us in another way. Some rivers have strong currents when they flow down from a high place. These currents are used by men in turning the wheels of mills or in generating electricity. Our National Government has established many power stations in the river project areas. Here electricity is generated at a very cheap cost by using the waterpower of those rivers.
A river scene is beautiful
The river presents a very beautiful sight. It is a source of pleasure to us. In winter, spring, and early part of summer the water of the river remains calm. We know how pleasant it is to walk in the morning and evening by the side of a river. It is also pleasant to have a pleasure trip in a boat or steamer when the river is calm.
Disadvantages
Yet rivers sometimes do us great harm. During the rainy season, some rivers wash away their banks. Many people are thereby rendered homeless and helpless. Sometimes a vast area is flooded. Many men and cattle die and crops are destroyed. This causes a great loss to the country.
Conclusion
It is true that rivers sometimes do us great harm. Still a river is a blessing to us. It helps us in many ways. So it is the duty of the Government to see that the rivers are not dried up. Our Government is now trying to control some rivers. We have read of many river valley projects which have been set up by our Government. Dams have been made there to store the water of these rivers. It prevents flood and helps agriculture and the generation of electricity. Sometimes these dams also cause flood when water is released from them in a huge quantity.
