Geography

Chapter-3
Water Resources

1.What is the situation regarding water scarcity in post independent India?

Solution:
Post-independent India witnessed intensive industrialisation and urbanisation, creating vast
opportunities for us. Today, large industrial houses are as common placeas the industrial units
of many MNCs(Multinational Corporations). The ever-increasing number of industries has made
matters worse by exerting pressure on existing freshwater resources. Industries, apart from
being heavy users of water, also require power to run them. Much of this energy comes from
hydroelectric power. Today, in India hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22 per cent
of the total electricity produced. Moreover, multiplying urban centres with large and dense
populations and urban lifestyles have not only added to water and energy requirements but
have further aggravated the problem. If you look into the housing societies or colonies in the
cities, you would find that most of these have their own groundwater pumping devices to meet
their water needs.

2.What are the causes of water scarcity in available areas?

Solution:
This scarcity may be due to bad quality of water. Lately, there has been a growing concern that
even if there is ample water to meet the needs of the people, much of it may be polluted by
domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture, thus,
making it hazardous for human use.

3.Give a short note on Multi-purpose projects In India.

Solution:
Multi-purpose projects, launched after Independence with their integrated water resources
management approach, were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to
development and progress, overcoming the handicap of its colonial past. Jawaharlal Nehru
proudly proclaimed the dams as the ‘temples of modern India’; the reason being that it would
integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and
growth of the urban economy.

4.What were the different methods of traditional rain-water harvesting?

Solution:There existed an extraordinary tradition of water-harvesting system. People had in-
depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to
harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological
conditions and their water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion
channels like the ‘guls’or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
‘Rooftop rain water harvesting’was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in
Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their
fields. In arid an semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage
structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer
and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.

5.Give a short note on Rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Solution:
Rooftop harvesting was common across the towns and villages of the Thar. Rainwater that falls
on the sloping roofs of houses is taken through a pipe into an underground tanka (circular holes
in the ground).It is built in the main house or in the courtyard. Water can be taken from a
neighbour’s roof through a long pipe. A hole is made through which rainwater flows down into
an underground tanka.

6.State two objectives of rainwater harvesting?

Solution:
1.It reduces run-off of potable water back into the sea.
2.It prevents water –logging in roads during rainy season.
7.What are two measures of conservation of water resources?
Solution:
Rainwater harvesting.
Transfer of water from flood prone basins to drought prone basins.

8.Give four major uses of water.

Solution:
Drinking and domestic consumption like washing clothes.
2.Irrigation of farm lands.
3.Generation of Hydro-electricity.
4.Cooling at home and in industrial establishments.

9.What do you understand by underground water? Mention two areas where underground water
is abundant.
Solution:
Water resources that lie beneath the surface of the earth is called underground water resources.
These come into existence due to the seepage of ground water during rainy spells.
Northernplains and coastal regions have abundant underground water. This is because the
plains are flat and the rock strata are permeable.

10.Name any Multi-purpose projects In India and give three contributions of that project.
Solution:
The Damodar Valley Project offers the following advantages:
1) Power station under that project provides 104 MW of Hydro electricity.
2.The project provides 136 km of inland waterways through reservoirs and canals,
Its canals irrigate 4,50,000 hectares of agricultural land.

11.What is a Multi-purpose project? State two purposes, which are fulfilled by multi-purpose
projects.
Solution:
Multi-purpose projects comprises of one or more dams erected to contain the free flow of water,
storage of water in artificially created reservoirs, power house for generation of Hydro-electricity
and feeder canals for irrigation.
1) They are designed to generate Hydro-electricity.
2) Store water for feeding irrigation channels.

12.Give two reasons why precipitation is called primary source of water on earth.
Solution:
Precipitation causes rains. The rainwater flow into rivers that are one of the primary sources of
water.
Rainwater made available by precipitation seeps into ground creating ground water reserves.

13.Give 2 examples of over-exploitation of water resources.

Solution:
Mineral water bottling plants and deep bore wells are two examples of over-exploitation of water
resources.

14.How much of the world’s water exist as fresh water?

Solution:
2.5 % of the world’s water exists as fresh water.

15.Identify the sources of fresh water supply?

Solution:
Precipitation, surface run-off and ground water are sources of fresh water supply.

16.How has industrialisation affected the quality of river waters?

Solution:
Discharges of untreated effluents in the river by industrial units have polluted river water.

17.What are the social consequences of building big dams?

Solution:
Big dam projects cause large scale displacement of people. The displaced people have to give
up their homes and their lands. The displaced people do not get the compensation they are
promised by the government and are put to a lot of hardship. The advantages of the dam, such
as better irrigation facilities, electricity and industrialisation are enjoyed by others, were as the
displaced people are left defenceless.
The dams have caused conflict between people who have been displaced and those who have
benefited.
Tribal people and farmers are involved in the Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Dam
Andolan seeking justice for displacement.

18.What is the situation regarding water scarcity in post independent India?

Solution:
Post-independent India witnessed intensive industrialisation and urbanisation, creating vast
opportunities for us. Today, large industrial houses are as common placeas the industrial units
of many MNCs(Multinational Corporations). The ever-increasing number of industries has made
matters worse by exerting pressure on existing freshwater resources. Industries, apart from
being heavy users of water, also require power to run them. Much of this energy comes from
hydroelectric power. Today, in India hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22 per cent
of the total electricity produced. Moreover, multiplying urban centres with large and dense
populations and urban lifestyles have not only added to water and energy requirements but
have further aggravated the problem. If you look into the housing societies or colonies in the
cities, you would find that most of these have their own groundwater pumping devices to meet
their water needs.

19.What were the different methods of traditional rain-water harvesting?

Solution:
There existed an extraordinary tradition of water-harvesting system. People had in-depth
knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest
rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological
conditions and their water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion
channels like the ‘guls’or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
‘Rooftop rain water harvesting’ was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in
Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their
fields. In arid an semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage
structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer
and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.

20.What is a multi-purpose project? Name any one and give 3 contributions of that project.
Solution:
The Damodar Valley Project offers the following advantages:
1) Power station under that project provides 104 MW of Hydro electricity.
2.The project provides 136 km of inland waterways through reservoirs and canals
Its canals irrigate 4,50,000 hectares of agricultural land.
Multi-purpose projects comprises of one or more dams erected to contain the free flow of water,
storage of water in artificially created reservoirs, power house for generation of Hydro-electricity
and feeder canals for irrigation.
1) They are designed to generate Hydro-electricity.
2) Store water for feeding irrigation channels