what is the role of rivers in indian economy?

 Among the most distinctive features of India are its rivers, which hold

 Tourism in South Asia is fast emerging as a diversified sector, reviving economies in more ways than one. Tourism is now a major contributor to the service sector of many national economies, including that of India. Few could have foreseen that India’s rich cultural history and naturally endowed flora and fauna would one day place the country at par with the most sought-after destinations across the world. India’s rivers have added to the innumerable attractions, making them the latest hotspots on India’s tourism map. 

A country best experienced through its distinguished spiritual heritage and mystic traditions expressed in myriad forms, India is fast emerging as a popular spiritual tourism destination – a promising segment of India’s organized tourism sector. River Tourism and Rural Tourism have immense potential as unique aspects of Nature Tourism in India, thereby contributing to the growth of the local economy. 

Rivers are among the most striking features of India’s landscape. India derives its name itself from the magnificent Indus River. The much talked about Interlinking-of-Rivers Project has brought into prominence several majestic Indian rivers. The Sindhu Darshan programme, which seeks to make visitors aware of the cultural richness of India and importance of being in India, has contributed to the rejuvenation of Ladakh’s economy. Consequently, this trans-Himalayan region has recorded a substantial increase in tourist arrival in the last five decades.

Inspired by the success of the Sindhu Darshan initiative, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh launched the Brahmaputra Darshan to project the Brahmaputra River as a symbol of culture, communal harmony and vitality in India. Experts hope that the Brahmaputra Darshan will also emerge as a major tourism activity in the state, making substantial contributions to the exchequer. The Ganga Darshan evolved from the desire of Hindu devotees to visit the sacred Ganga River. The profound faith of tradition-bound Indians is now sustaining the economic lives of those pursuing micro economic activities along the banks of the river. Jawaharlal Nehru described the Ganga River as a “symbol of India’s memorable past which has been flowing into the present and continues to flow towards the ocean of the future.” 

Along these and other large rivers across the country, enterprising individuals seek to market the panoramic view. The Panchayats concerned are keen to develop scenic sites along the rivers and make arrangements for the availability of basic facilities in villages for these nature tourists. 
Why River Tourism? Experts foresee threats to river systems if carrying-capacity norms are violated with an unmonitored increase in the number of tourists. Planned well, River Tourism can be used as a medium of education to spread environmental awareness through the use of three concepts - Nature Tourism, Adventure Tourism and Culture Tourism. While eco-tourism and leisure tourism are among the most popular, Rural Tourism has yet to gain ground despite high potential due to inadequate planning.

Not long ago, a group of Hindu monks at Lucknow launched a protest against the district administration for its indifferent silence over the continued pollution of the Ganga River. The unacceptably high levels of pollution in the river prevent devotees from performing Kalpavaas, a ritual in which devotees spend an entire month in Allahabad, at the confluence of three rivers and drink Ganga jal (water) as a part of the ritual. In Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, a movement led by the seer Swami Swaroopanandji was launched against a unit of Shaw Wallace Company, for its alleged role in the pollution of the Narmada River. While the Narmada still remains less polluted than many other Indian rivers, insensitive socio-environmental behaviour of the devotees would inevitably pollute the waters unless they are given environmental education. The River Tourism could become a learning experience for tourists, appealing to their sense of rationality to aid the drive against pollution of these sources of human life. 

Thousands of families living along the river banks and ghats support themselves by earning from micro-economic activities that are generated by the constant arrival of tourists. People living in villages close to banks of the Narmada River regard the river as a mother, believing that the waters have miraculous strengths. Narmada Darshan, sensitively designed and promoted, can strengthen the economies of the villages located along its banks. States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, where rivers make geographical distinctions, can also consider developing River Tourism to add an additional. remunerative dimension to their local economies.

The World Tourism Organization estimates 1.6 billion international tourists traveling across the world in 2020, as compared to 0.57 billion in 1995. Of this, South Asia is expected to have a share of 0.2 billion. FICCI es

 Rivers have been of fundamental importance in human history. Water from the rivers is a basic natural resource, essential for various human activities. Therefore, the river banks have attracted settlers from ancient times. These settlements have now become big cities. Using rivers for irrigation, navigation, hydro-power generation is of special significance-particularly to a country like India.

 Ans: Rivers are highly important for the country’s economy. Following are some of the points which indicate the importance of rivers for the country’s economy:

* The rivers contain natural fresh (sweet) water which is required for the survival of most of the animals including man.

* They provide water for irrigation and cultivation.

* They make soil rich and arable which can be easily brought under cultivation without much labour.

* Used for navigation and transport thus, important for commercial activities.

* Estuaries near the sea-shores, where the sweet water mixes freely with the salty water of the oceans, have proved one of the most biologically productive areas of the world.

* The rivers are being harnessed for generating hydro-electric power.

* Some lakes are also important tourist spots e.g. Dal Lake, Nainital etc.

 anuj bora,

some pionts on river are importants for the countrys economy are given below-

(1)they help to regation the flow of a rivers.

(2) they help to develop tourism and  provide recreation.

* The rivers contain natural fresh (sweet) water which is required for the survival of most of the animals including man.

* They provide water for irrigation and cultivation.

* They make soil rich and arable which can be easily brought under cultivation without much labour.

* Used for navigation and transport thus, important for commercial activities.

* Estuaries near the sea-shores, where the sweet water mixes freely with the salty water of the oceans, have proved one of the most biologically productive areas of the world.

* The rivers are being harnessed for generating hydro-electric power.

* Some lakes are also important tourist spots e.g. Dal Lake, Nainital etc.

Role of Rivers in the Economy:

i. Rivers have remained important through the ages.

ii. The areas along the banks of rivers have witnessed great cultural and economic progress since ancient times.

iii. Rivers are integral parts of our folklore and folk-songs.

iv. River water is a basic natural resource.

v. It is essential for human, agricultural and industrial activities.

vi. Rivers deposits alluvial soils.

vii. They provide the most productive agricultural lands to the country.

viii. The Ganga, the Kaveri and other deltas have traditionally been the rice growing areas.

ix. An agriculture-dependent on the vagaries of the monsoon; get irrigation water from rivers. Hence rivers are the backbone of the developement of Indian agriculture.

x. Rivers valleys have dense and concentrated settlements.