CLASS X CHAPTER 3 Water Resources broad

1. What were the reasons for launching multi-purpose river projects in India after independence?
Ans. After independence, India initiated planned development of economic activities through the Five Year
Plans to improve the standard of living of the people. The reason was that these projects would integrate
development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban
economy.
2. Why are multi-purpose projects called ‘temples of modern India’?
India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave a term Temples of modern India while inaugurating
Bhakra Nangal Dam.
Nehru recognized several key benefits of dams, which further reinforced his belief in them as the temples
of modern India. These benefits include: 1. Hydropower Generation: Dams enable the generation of
hydropower, a clean and renewable energy source. This would help India meet its growing energy
demands and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 2. Irrigation: Dams create reservoirs that can store water
and release it in controlled quantities for irrigation purposes. This would enhance agricultural productivity,
improve food security, and reduce dependence on monsoon rains. 3. Flood Control: Dams can regulate
river flows and prevent devastating floods. By storing excess water during heavy rainfall and releasing it
gradually, dams offer flood control measures, protecting lives, and infrastructure. 4. Water Supply: Dams
provide a reliable source of clean drinking water to nearby communities. They ensure a steady supply even
during droughts or dry seasons, benefiting both rural and urban areas. 5. Navigation and Tourism: Large
reservoirs created by dams can facilitate inland navigation, opening up transportation routes and boosting
trade. Additionally, these water bodies often become tourist attractions, contributing to the growth of the
tourism industry.
3. Explain any two consequences of changing crop pattern due to irrigation.
i Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to the cultivation of
water-intensive and commercial crops.ii This has great ecological consequences. It leads to water-logging
and consequent salinization of the soil.iii This is the negative effect of irrigation. As rich farmers have
better access to irrigation they have earned more money due to the production of commercial crops.iv On
the other hand the landless poor who could not avail of its benefits has become poorer.v Thus irrigation
has transformed the social landscape by increasing the social gap between rich landowners and the
landless poor families.
4. Why do local communities oppose multipurpose projects?
One of the major reasons the multi-purpose projects were opposed was that it could not complete the
purpose it was built for: 1) One of its purposes was to avoid floods. Instead, it is found that these multi-
purpose projects aggravated the flood water which led to the loss of lives and soil erosion. 2) It disturbed
the lives of people living by rehabilitating them. 3) It does not satisfy the socio-economic principles
whereas the rainwater harvesting system does. 4) Environmentally rainwater harvesting systems are
considered more environmentally friendly compared to multi-purpose projects.
5.Why is there a need to develop rainwater harvest system in India? Explain
Need for development of rainwater harvesting system has arisen due to :
(i) Large growing population - means more water required for domestic use and also to produce more food
.
(ii) In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry -
season agriculture
(iii) There is uneven distribution of rainfall. More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate higher
food production, i.e., for doing multiple cropping and for HYV seeds
(iv) There is greater demand for water with growing urbanisation and industrialisation . The quality of
water is deteriorating i.e., getting polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and
pesticides used in agriculture
(v) An unequal access to water among different social groups
(vi) Over exploitation of water in the urban areas. Housing societies and colonies have their own ground
water pumping devices. This causes depletion of fragile water resources in the cities
6. What is rainwater harvesting? State the object of rainwater harvesting
The rainwater harvesting system is one of the best methods to support the conservation of water. In this
question you have to write why it is done. Generate alternative solutions then evaluate and select an
alternative after this implementation and follow upon the solution.
The simple process or technology used to conserve Rainwater by collecting, storing, conveying and
purifying of Rainwater that runs off from rooftops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc. for later use is called
Rain Water Harvesting.
The main objectives of rainwater harvesting are as follows:
Reducing the loss of water by its running –off.
Avoiding flooding of roads. Meeting the demands of increasing water.
There are many advantages of RainWater Harvesting like:
1. It helps to reduce the water bills.
2. It helps to reduce the soil erosion, stormwater runoff, flooding, and pollution of surface water with
fertilizers, pesticides and other sediments.
3. It is an excellent source of water for the purpose of landscape irrigation with no chemicals and dissolved
salts and free from all minerals.
4. It is the simplest method to conserve water.
5. It is used to increase the availability of water during the dry season.
6. It helps to reduce groundwater contamination.
7. It is used to avoid the flooding of roads
Dew and fog can also be collected with nets.
7. What’s dam? How do they help us? Classify dams
A dam is a barrier across the flowing stream that obstructs directs or disrupts the flow of the river often
creating a reservoir lake or impoundment. A ‘dam’ means a reservoir rather than the structure.Dams are
classified according to :i Based on the structure and the materials used dams are classified as :a Timber
dams. b Embankment dams. c Masonry dams.ii According to height dams can be categorized as :a Large
dams. b Major dams. c Low dams. d Medium height dams. e High dams.
Dams are classified according to their structure, intended purpose or height. On the basis of structure and
material used, dams are classified as:
 Timber dams
 Embankment dams or masonry dams.
According to their height, dams can be categorised as:
 Large dams or major dams
 Low dams
Medium height dams
High dams
Dam is a barrier flowing water that obstructs or retard the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake, or
impoundment.” dams refer to the reservoir rather than the structure. for example, water in a single
reservoir can be used for fishing, to generate hydroelectric power, and to support an irrigation system.
Functions
(i) Most dams have a section called spillway or weir over which or through which, water will flow
intermittently or continuously.
(ii) It is used The second to raise the level of the water upstream to enable water to be diverted into a
canal or to increase ’hydraulic head’.
There are different types of dams are-
(i) According to the structure and materials used, they are classified as timber dams, embankment dams,
or masonry dams.
(ii) According to height, they are classified as large and major dams, low dams, medium height dams, and
high dams.
8. Brief describe the types of rain water harvesting practiced in India?
The three different rainwater harvesting systems practised in India are Tankas, Guls and kuls and Khadins.
1) Tankas: In the dry regions of Rajasthan, like Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer, almost all the houses have
installed tankas for storing rainwater. The tanks were built on the house's top or in the courtyard. The
tankas were connected to the sloping roofs of the homes through a pipe. Then the water falling on the
rooftops would travel down the pipe and can be stored in these 'tankas.'
2) Guls & Kuls: In hilly and mountainous regions of India like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, people
built diversion channels like the 'guls' or 'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture to store rainwater.
3) Khadins: The 'Khadi' rainwater harvesting system is practised in Rajasthan. In khadin, a long earthen
dam is known as the bund. It is made across the edges of the field. Then the rainwater flows down the
slope and gets collected. The water collected on the land can be used for agriculture.
9. Examine the ill effects of industrialization and urbanization on water resources?
After independence, India witnessed intensive industrialization and urbanization.
It posed great pressure on existing fresh water resources in the following ways.
(i) Large industrial houses and multinational corporations use large quantities of water. They also require
power to run themselves. Much of this energy comes from hydroelectric power.
(ii) Urban centers with large and growing populations have added to water and energy requirements. The
housing societies have underground pumping devices to draw water and meet their water needs.
(iii) A large population not only needs more water but also more food. Hence water resources are
overexploited to expand irrigated areas.
10 . Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects
Advantages of Multipurpose River Project Disadvantages of Multipurpose River
Project
Supply of water for domestic and Causes deforestation
industrial usage
Check soil erosion Migration of people from their lands
Flood control Aquatic life is badly affected.
Recreation Restricts the natural river flow
Generation of electricity It leads to the deposits of sediments in the
riverbed
Inland navigation Loss of existing agricultural lands
Fish breeding Changes cropping pattern

11. Water is available in abundance in India but even then scarcity of water is experienced in major parts
of the country.' Explain with four examples
i The availability of water resources varies over space and time mainly due to the variations in seasonal and
annual precipitation.ii Over-exploitation excessive use and unequal access to water among different social
groups.iii Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population and consequent greater
demands for water. A large population means more water to produce more food. Hence to facilitate higher
food-grain production water resources are being overexploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season
agriculture.iv Most farmers have their own wells and tube wells in their farms for irrigation to increase
their production. But it may lead to falling groundwater levels adversely affecting water availability and
food security of the people. Thus in spite of abundant water there is water scarcity.
(i) Water scarcity is experienced in major cities of India due to large population, increased consumption
and unequal access to water resources.
(ii) Large population requires more water for domestic purposes as well as for increased agricultural
productivity. To provide assured irrigation for agriculture water resources are overexploited resulting in
lowering of the water table.
(iii) Setting up of multinational companies on a large scale has created ever increasing demand for water
and cheap source of power for running the machines.
(iv) Large scale urbanisation and modern lifestyle of the people in cities has created more demand for
water and energy resulting in water scarcity.
(v) The bad quality of water has resulted in water scarcity due to pollution of waterbodies by discharging
urban waste, industrial effluents, pesticides and fertilisers from agricultural fields rating it unfit for human
consumption.
12. What is a multipurpose river valley project? Give any four objectives of it.
A multipurpose project is that which simultaneously serves several purposes such as irrigation, water
storage etc. A dam built across a river often serves more than one purpose at a time and is termed as a
multipurpose project. The objectives of Multi-purpose river valley projects are : (i) to control flood. (ii) check
soil erosion.(iii) provide water for irrigation.
OR, Multipurpose river valley projects refers to the building of large dams for generating hydro-electricity
and for supplying water for irrigation, industrial and domestic purposes. Objectives of multipurpose river
valley projects are: Development of agriculture Development of village economy Rapid industrialisation
Growth of urban economy Generate electricity for industries, villages and cities. Provide inland navigation.
Encourage tourism and recreation. Preservation of wildlife. Development of fisheries. Examples: Bhakra
Nangal, Hirakud, Kosi, Chambal, etc.
13. What is water scarcity and what are its main causes/in India
Water scarcity is nothing but shortage of water to meet the needs of the humans.
Water scarcity is caused by unequal access to water, excessive use of water among different social groups
and in most cases it is caused by over-exploitation of water.
Due to variations in annual precipitation and seasons, the availability of water varies over time and space.
Due to rapidly increasing population, there is more demand for food, which in turn leads to more demand
for water for personal use and for increasing food grain production as well which leads to over exploitation
of water resources during dry season months and to expand irrigated areas.
Hence one can also say that the growing population and unequal access to water is one of the important
causes for water scarcity.
More pressure is exerted on existing freshwater resources due to the constant increase in the number of
industries.
Apart from being heavy users of water, industries also meet the majority of their power requirements
through hydroelectric power.
The water scarcity problem has been further aggravated due to urban lifestyles, dense and large
populations in urban centres.
In urban areas there are many large colonies or housing societies which make use of their own
groundwater pumping devices to meet water requirements. This has led to massive depletion of
groundwater resources as there is not much scope for replenishing itself.
Another major problem behind water scarcity is pollution of water resources due to fertilisers, pesticides,
chemicals, domestic and industrial wastes, thus making the water unusable even if there is ample water.
Effects of Water Scarcity
lack of access to drinking water
hunger
diseases
sanitation issues
poverty
migration
destruction of habitats
loss of biodiversity
14. Why do we need to conserve water?
Water is the basic need of the people .It is a natural resource needed by every living being on the globe.It
is limited and necessary to conserve it.Reasons to conserve water can be explained as follows:
(i)Water resources in India are limited and our population is increasing day by day so the water requirment
is also increasing day bu day.
(ii)Availbility of water in our country is uneven,so it is necessary to make it available to all.
(iii)Water resources are being polluted day by day,especially in the urban areas and are not suitable for
drinking purpose.
(iv)It is necessary to conserve water to make it available to all for the continuation of our livelihood and to
save our ecosystem as well as human beings.
Measures to Conserve water Resources:
(i)Save water,avoid water wastage in domestic as well at all other levels.
(ii)Recharge groud water by using rain water harvesting etc.
(iii)Use drip irrgation and sprinklers methods to irrigate the fields.
15. Examine the ill effects of industrialization and urbanization on water resources
1 Industrialization: Industries are heavy users of water. They also require energy to run machines. Much of
this energy comes from hydro-electric power.2 Urbanization: I Multiplying urban centers with large and
dense populations and urban lifestyles have not only added to water and energy requirements but also
have further aggravated the problem.ii Most housing societies have their own groundwater pumping
devices to meet their water needs. This leads to depletion of underground water.
16. Brief describes the types of rain water harvesting practiced in India?
The three different rainwater harvesting systems practised in India are Tankas, Guls and kuls and Khadins.
1) Tankas: In the dry regions of Rajasthan, like Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer, almost all the houses have
installed tankas for storing rainwater. The tanks were built on the house's top or in the courtyard. The
tankas were connected to the sloping roofs of the homes through a pipe. Then the water falling on the
rooftops would travel down the pipe and can be stored in these 'tankas.'
2) Guls & Kuls: In hilly and mountainous regions of India like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, people
built diversion channels like the 'guls' or 'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture to store rainwater.
3) Khadins: The 'Khadi' rainwater harvesting system is practised in Rajasthan. In khadin, a long earthen
dam is known as the bund. It is made across the edges of the field. Then the rainwater flows down the
slope and gets collected. The water collected on the land can be used for agriculture.
17. Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.
Renewable resource:
Some the examples of renewable resources of energy include biomass energy (such as ethanol),
hydropower, geothermal power, wind energy, and solar energy.
Organic materials that we obtain from plants or animals are referred to as biomass.
This consists of ethanol, sewage, and wood (which comes from corn or other plants).
Water as a renewable resource:
As water evaporates from the Earth's surface, it gathers in the atmosphere and returns to the Earth as rain.
Surface water refills groundwater, and groundwater replaces surface water on Earth.
Water is a renewable resource when properly managed and used responsibly.
Water circulates in nature in numerous states of matter, including liquid, vapour, and ice.
As a result, the water that evaporates returns to the earth in the form of rain.
As a result, water becomes a renewable resource.
18. Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out.
Rain water harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is administered within the following ways:-
(i) In Rajasthan semi-arid regions, every house is having underground tanks to store the water for drinking
purposes.
(ii) These tanks are large and deep which were built inside most houses or the courtyard.
(iii) They were linked to the sloping roofs of the homes through a pipe. Rainwater falling on the rooftops
would run down through a pipe and collect within the underground tankas.
(iv) The rainwater collected, is stored within the tanks providing beverage till subsequent season .
(v) When all other sources have dried up, these tanks were beneficial to fight against the summer heat as
they kept the rooms cool. The rainwater or palar pani, as commonly known in these parts, is taken into
account the purest sort of natural water.
(VI) Paar is a common water harvesting practice in the western Rajasthan region. It is a standard place
where the rainwater flows from the agar and within the process percolates into the sandy soil. In order to
access the rajani pani which is percolated water, kuis or beris are dug within the agor which is a storage
area.