Chapter 13: A River’s Tale

Once upon a time, there was a river with clear blue water and lots of fishes. Water plants were also present that provided good habitat for the aquatic animals. A factory was started near the river and a city grew near it. Goods required for the factory was supplied through the river with the help of big ships. Oil spills and effluents from the factory were discarded into the river. People from the nearby cities also bathed their animals and washed clothes in the river. This made the river foul smelling and filthy. It was no longer a river with clear water.

NCERT Textbook Page No. – 107

Look at the pictures and answer the following questions.

Water has no colour. When we observe water in a river from a distance, we find it to be bluish in colour.

Aquatic animals, like fish, need fresh water. In places where river is not polluted, many fishes would live. Similarly, in areas where factory wastes and domestic wastes are poured in the river, it gets polluted and kills fishes and water plants.

A large number of fishes can be seen in the river before it reaches the village.

The colour of the water in the river changed near towns and villages. It happened because of pollution created by the people who threw waste in the river.

I would like to live in the place where the river started. The water is clean and pure, and the environment is calm, as it has many trees.

I would like to remove all the waste in the water and river bank. Due to these wastes, the water gets polluted.

Yes, I have seen people throwing harmful chemicals, coins, domestic waste, etc., into rivers and other water bodies.

People living near the river banks should not bathe their animals and wash their clothes in the river. The industrial waste and sewage should not be discarded into the river. In addition, treatment plants should be set up to remove chemicals and other wastes before letting it into the river.