Water Resources

1. Explain how water becomes a renewable resource?

Fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water. This is continually
being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. Water moves within the
hydrological cycle making water a renewable resource.
2. What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water scarcity.

Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low rainfall.
There are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water.

Large growing population—means more water required for domestic use and also to produce
more food.

In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and
dry-season agriculture.

More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate higher food production, i.e., for doing
multiple cropping and for HYV seeds.

There is greater demand for water with growing urbanization and industrialization.

Unequal access to water among different social groups.

Water is getting polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides
used in agriculture.

Excessive use of water by industries and water is also require water to generate hydro-electric
power to run them.
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.

3. How intensive industrialization and urbanization have posed a great pressure on

existing fresh water resources in India? Explain with two examples for each.

Intensive industrialization and urbanization have put greater pressure on existing fresh water
resources. With the ever-growing number of industries, the demand for water has grown
tremendously:

Industries are heavy users of fresh water as water is required for cooling the machines as well as
for the processing of goods.

Also the machines run on the power supplied by the hydel power plants.

22 percent of the total electricity is hydro-electric power.

Rapid urbanization has led to expansion of industries which increased the requirement of water.

The untreated industrial effluents discharged into water bodies are polluting the water and
making it hazardous for human consumption. This is responsible for creating water scarcity.

Multiplying urban centres with large urban population and urban lifestyles have not only added
to water and energy requirements but have further aggravated the problem by over-drawing the
groundwater by using their own groundwater pumping devices for meeting their water needs for
domestic purposes such as cleaning, cooking, washing, etc. Thus, water resources are being over-
exploited which has caused their depletion in several cities.

4. Write the adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground water resources.

Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to falling ground water levels.

It will adversely affect water availability.

This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of the people.

Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the ecological cycle.

5. Write the main causes of water pollution.

Domestic wastes, especially urban sewages.

Industrial wastes are disposed in the water without proper treatment.

Chemical effluents from industries and from agricultural sector.

Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture may get washed into rivers by rain-water and may
pollute the water

Many human activities also pollute water resources

6. What is the need for conservation of water resources?

Water resources are limited and our requirements are increasing day by day. The water resources
are unevenly distributed. We need to conserve water to;

To safeguard ourselves from health hazards.

For the continuation of our livelihoods.

To prevent degradation of our natural ecosystem.

7. Write some measures adopted for conservation of water resources.

Do not overdraw the ground water, recharge the ground water by techniques like rainwater
harvesting.
Avoid wastage of water at all levels.

Do not pollute the water.

Adopting water conserving techniques of irrigation, e.g., drip irrigation and sprinklers etc.,
especially in dry areas. Sufficient water percolation facilities should be increased to help in
raising the level of the water table.

8. What were the different types of hydraulic structures constructed in Ancient India?
Give examples.

During Chandragupta Maurya’s time, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built.

Bhopal lake of the 11th century was one of the largest artificial lakes of its time.

Sophisticated irrigation works have been found in Kalinga (Orissa), Kolhapur (Maharashtra),
Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh) etc.

The tank in Huaz Khas in Delhi was built in 14th century to supply water to Siri Fort area.

9. What is a dam? On what basis are dams classified into different types
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, creating
a reservoir, lake or impoundment.

Dams are classified according to structure, intended purpose or height. According to structure
and materials used, they are classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry dams.
According to height, they are classified as large and major dams, low dams, medium height dams
and high dams.

10. What is the main difference between traditional dams and modern dams?
Traditionally dams were built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to irrigate
the agricultural fields.

Today, dams are referred to as multipurpose projects where many uses of the impounded water
are integrated with one another. The main purposes served by these projects are irrigation,
electricity generation, flood control, water supply for domestic and industrial use, fish breeding
and tourism.

11. Jawahar Lai Nehru proudly proclaimed the ‘dams as the temples of modern India’.
Analyze this statement.
Jawahar Lal Nehru proclaimed that multipurpose projects as ‘The Temples of Modern
India’, because they were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to
development and progress. He believed that these projects with their integrated water
resource management approach would integrate development of agriculture and the village
economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy.
12. ‘Construction of dams on rivers has caused environmental degradation.’ Give
reasons to support this statement.
or
What are the disadvantages of dams?

Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow.

Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.

Lack of sediments results in rockier stream bed and poorer habitat for the river’s aquatic life.

Dams also fragment rivers, making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for
spawning.

The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil, leading to its decomposition over time.

Flood plains are deprived of silt and khadar, affecting the fertility levels of the soil.
Construction of dams also faces resistance because of large scale displacement of local
communities.

13. Multipurpose projects and dams have been the cause of many new social movements.
Name two such social movements and write the underlying causes for these
movements.
Resistance to these projects came from social movements, e.g.,
• ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and
• ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’

Their major concerns were as follows:

Initially the environmental concerns were of utmost importance.
Dams have resulted in large-scale displacement of local communities.
Local people have to give up their land and livelihood.
Local people do not benefit from such projects as they are even deprived of the local sources on
which they have little control.
Many settlements and agricultural lands are submerged under water.
Rehabilitation of the displaced persons is now the prime concern of these movements.
14. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river valley projects.
Advantages:

They bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity and also provide water for
irrigation.

It is used to generate electricity.

They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.

These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.
Disadvantages:
The dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation in
the reservoir.
The big dams have mostly been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of excessive
rainfall.
These floods cause extensive soil erosion in addition to loss of life and property.
Sedimentation deprives the flood plains of silt, a natural fertiliser.
It was observed that these projects induced earthquakes.
Floods cause water-borne diseases and pests.
These river valley projects lead to large scale displacement of people and loss livelihoods.
15. Give an example of an inter-state water dispute
Krishna-Godavari dispute. The Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Governments objected to
the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra government for a multipurpose
project as this results in reduction of downstream flow to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
adversely affecting agriculture and industry in these States.
16. Describe the traditional method of rainwater harvesting adopted in different parts of
India.

In ancient India, people developed wide-ranging techniques to harvest rainwater.

In mountainous areas ‘Guls’ and ‘Kuls’ the diversion channels were built for agriculture.

‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store drinking water, especially in
Rajasthan.

Inundation channels for irrigation were developed in the flood plains of West Bengal.

In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rainfed storage structures,
eg. ‘Khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.
In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, all the
houses had underground tanks or ‘tankas’ built inside the house for storing drinking water. They
were a part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

17. Explain how rooftop rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is

carried out.
Or
Write the features of the ’tankas’ built in the houses of Bikaner, Phalodi and
Barmer.
Ans:
‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store drinking water,
especially in semi-arid and arid regions like Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer in Rajasthan.

In semi-arid and arid regions, all the houses had underground tankas or ‘tankas’ for storing
drinking water built inside the house. They were the part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater
harvesting system.

The tankas were built inside the main house or the courtyard

The tanks were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.

The falling rain would travel down the pipes and get stored in the underground ‘tankas’.

The first spell of rain would not be collected as it cleaned the roof and pipes.

he rainwater from subsequent showers was collected.

Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the tanka to beat the summer heat as it
would keep the room cool.

18. Write how modem adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are
being carried out to conserve and store water.
In modem times, rainwater harvesting is done in both rural and urban areas to recharge the
groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater by constructing structures, dug wells,
percolation pits, digging trenches around fields, etc.

Rooftop rainwater harvesting structures are a common practice in many cities. Rain-water is
collected using a PVC pipe and is filtered using sand and bricks.

This water can be stored to meet the household needs through storage in tanks. This water is
readily available for immediate usage.

Excess water or a pipe can be connected to an underground reservoir which may recharge the
ground-water through hand-pump.

19. Rain water harvesting system is viable alternative both socially, economically and
environmentally. Support the statement with three examples.
Due to the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multipurpose projects, water
harvesting system was a viable alternative, both socio-economically and environmentally.
People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide
ranging techniques to harvest rainwater in keeping with the local ecological conditions
and their water needs.

i) In hilly and mountainous regions, people build diversion channels like 'gul' or 'kul' in Western
Himalaya for agriculture.

(ii) Roof-top rainwater harvesting was commonly practiced to store drinking water, particularly
in Rajasthan.

(iii) In West Bengal, people develop inundation channels to irrigate their fields.

(iv) In semi-arid regions, agricultural fields are converted into rain fed storage structures that
allowed the water to stand and moist the soil.
20.Write a short note on Jal Jeevan Mission
It is a programme introduced by Government of India. The aim of this programme is to improve
the quality of life and enhance ease of living of people especially those living in rural areas. The
Goal of JJM is to enable every rural household to get assured supply of potable piped water at a
service level of 55 litres per capita per day regularly on long-term basis by ensuring functionality
of the tap water connections.