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Water Resources

The document discusses various aspects of water resources in India, including rooftop rainwater harvesting, underground water, and the impact of industrialization and urbanization on water scarcity. It highlights traditional rainwater harvesting methods, the social consequences of big dam projects, and the reasons for opposition to large dams. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of agriculture in stressing water resources and mentions Jawaharlal Nehru's view of dams as 'temples of modern India' for their multifaceted contributions to development.

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6 views5 pages

Water Resources

The document discusses various aspects of water resources in India, including rooftop rainwater harvesting, underground water, and the impact of industrialization and urbanization on water scarcity. It highlights traditional rainwater harvesting methods, the social consequences of big dam projects, and the reasons for opposition to large dams. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of agriculture in stressing water resources and mentions Jawaharlal Nehru's view of dams as 'temples of modern India' for their multifaceted contributions to development.

Uploaded by

nandanasofia
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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(GEOGRAPHY)

WATER RESUORCES

1. Give a short note on Rooftop rainwater harvesting.


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

2. What do you understand by underground water? Mention two areas where


underground water is abundant.
A:
I. Water resources that lie beneath the surface of the earth is called underground
water resources.
II. These come into existence due to the seepage of ground water during rainy
spells.
III. Northern Plains and coastal regions have abundant underground water.
IV. This is because the plains are flat and the rock strata are permeable.

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


A:
I. Post-independent India witnessed intensive industrialisation and urbanisation,
creating vast opportunities for us.
II. The ever-increasing number of industries has made matters worse by exerting
pressure on existing freshwater resources.
III. Industries, apart from being heavy users of water, also require power to run
them. Much of this energy comes from hydroelectric power.
IV. Today, in India hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22 per cent of
the total electricity produced.
V. 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.

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


A:
I. There existed an extraordinary tradition of water-harvesting system.
II. 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.
III. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the
‘guls’or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
IV. Rooftop rain water harvesting was commonly practised to store drinking
water, particularly in Rajasthan.
V. 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. What are the social consequences of building big dams?


A:
I. Big dam projects cause large scale displacement of people. The displaced
people have to give up their homes and their lands.
II. The displaced people do not get the compensation they are promised by the
government and are put to a lot of hardship.
III. 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.
IV. The dams have caused conflict between people who have been displaced and
those who have benefited.
V. Tribal people and farmers are involved in the Narmada Bachao Andolan and
Tehri Dam Andolan seeking justice for displacement.

6. What is a multi-purpose project? Name any one and give 3 contributions of


that project.
A: 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.

Eg: The Damodar Valley Project offers the following advantages:


1) Power station under that project provides 104 MW of Hydroelectricity.
2) The project provides 136 km of inland waterways through reservoirs and
canals.
Its canals irrigate 4,50,000 hectares of agricultural land.

7. Explain any three reasons due to which large dams have come under great
opposition in recent years.

A: In recent times the dams have come under great opposition because of the
following reasons.

i) The construction of dams resulted in problems like excessive


sedimentation, waterlogging, soil erosion, sudden floods, large-scale
deforestation, extinction of species, displacement of communities and
loss of livelihood of tribal communities.

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

iii) Dams that were built to control floods have triggered floods due to
sedimentation in the reservoir.

iv) Big dams have been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of
excessive rainfall. The release of water from the dams during heavy
rainfall, worsens the situation.

v) Multi-purpose projects cause earthquakes, water-borne diseases and


pollution due to the excessive use of water.

8. How have intensive industrialization and urbanization posed a great pressure


on existing fresh water resources in India? Explain.
A: After independence, India witnessed intensive industrialisation 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 centres with large and growing population 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.

9. How is agriculture responsible for creating stress on water resources? Suggest


any one solution for it.
A: Agriculture is responsible for creating stress on water resources in the
following ways:
i) To facilitate higher food-grain production, water resources are being over-
exploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season agriculture.

ii) Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water.

iii) Most farmers have their own wells and tube wells on their farms for
irrigation to increase their productivity. This lead to falling groundwater
levels, adversely affecting water availability and food security of the
people.

10.Who proclaimed dams as the temples of modern India? Why?


A: Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the ‘Temples of modern India’
because

• They integrate the development of agriculture and the village economy with
rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy.
• They provide water for irrigation.
• They provide water for electricity generation
• Provide water supply for domestic and industrial uses.
• Helps in flood control.
• Provide recreation
• Helps in inland navigation.
• Useful for fish breeding.

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