DRAINAGE

(NOTES, EXTRA QUESTIONS & TEXTUAL

SOLUTIONS)
Notes

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
 Examine the information about different lakes and infer on their
contribution to Indian ecology.
 Present creative solutions to overcome the water pollution also to
increase the contribution of water bodies to Indian economy.
 Identify the river systems of the country and explain the role
ofrivers in human society.
VOCABULARY:
 Drainage Basin
 Water Divide
 Perennial River / Seasonal River
 Gorge
 Meander
 Oxbow Lake
 Delta
MIND MAP:
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TEXTUAL SOLUTIONS:
Exercise Page No.23
1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) In which of the following states is the Wular lake located?
(a) Rajasthan (b) Punjab (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: Jammu and Kashmir

(ii) The river Narmada has its source at

(a) Satpura (b) Amarkantak (c) Brahmagiri (d) Slopes of the Western
Ghat
Answer: Amarkantak

(iii) Which one of the following lakes is a saltwater lake?

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(a) Sambhar (b) Wular (c) Dal (d) Gobind Sagar
Answer: Sambhar

(iv) Which one of the following is the longest river in Peninsular

India?
(a) Narmada (b) Godavari (c) Krishna (d) Mahanadi
Answer: Godavari

(v) Which one amongst the following rivers flows through a rift
valley?
(a) Mahanadi (b) Krishna (c) Tungabhadra (d) Tapi
Answer: Tapi

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) What is meant by a water divide? Give an example.
Answer: Any elevated area, such as a mountain or an upland, which
separates two drainage basins is called an upland. Such an upland is
also known as a water divide. For example, the water divide between
the Indus and the Ganga River Systems.

(ii) Which is the largest river basin in India?

Answer:The Ganga River Basin is the largest river basin in India.

(iii) Where do the rivers Indus and Ganga have their origin?
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Answer: Indus River origin – Near Manasarovar Lake, Tibet
Ganga River origin – Gangotri glacier in Uttaranchal

(iv) Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to
form the Ganga?
Answer: The two headstreams of the Ganga are Alaknanda and
Bhagirathi. They both meet to form Ganga at Devprayag.

(v) Why does the Brahmaputra in its Tibetan part have less silt,
despite a longer course?
Answer: In Tibet, the river carries a smaller volume of water and less
silt, as it is a cold and dry area. In India, it passes through a region of
high rainfall. Hence, the river carries a large volume of water and a
considerable amount of silt.

(vi) Which two Peninsular rivers flow through a trough?

Answer: Narmada and Tapi are the two Peninsular rivers that flow
through a trough.

(vii) State some economic benefits of rivers and lakes.

Answer: Rivers have been of fundamental importance throughout
human history. Water from rivers is a basic natural resource, essential
for various human activities. Therefore, riverbanks have attracted
settlers from ancient times. Using rivers for irrigation, navigation and
hydropower generation is of special significance — particularly to a
country like India, where agriculture is the major source of livelihood
for the majority of its population.
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3. Below are given names of a few lakes of India. Group them under
two categories – natural and created by human beings. (a) Wular (b)
Dal (c) Nainital (d) Bhimtal (e) Gobind Sagar (f) Loktak (g) Barapani
(h) Chilika (i) Sambhar (j) Rana Pratap Sagar (k) Nizam Sagar (l)
Pulicat (m) Nagarjuna Sagar (n) Hirakund

Answer:
Natural Lakes
 Wular
 Dal
 Nainital
 Bhimtal
 Loktal
 Chilika
 Pulicat
 Sambhar
 Barapani
Human-made Lakes
 Gobind Sagar
 Rana Pratap Sagar
 Nizam Sagar
 Nagarjuan Sagar
 Hirakud

4. Discuss the significant difference between the Himalayan and the

Peninsular rivers.
Answer:
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\Himalayan Rivers Peninsular Rivers

These rivers rise from the snow These are seasonal rivers.
covered Himalayas hence these
are perennial.
Receive water from Rain and Dependent on rainfall. During
Snowfall. dry seasons, the rivers get dried
up.

The Himalayan Rivers have These rivers make waterfall and

large basins and extensive cataracts on the plateau. Hence
catchment areas. Therefore, these these are useful for hydro-
have a large volume of water. electric projects.
These rivers flow over plains. The Peninsular Rivers have
There for these are useful for small basins and small catchment
irrigation and navigation. areas. Therefore these do not
have a large volume of water.
These rivers pass through deep These rivers flow through
gorges before entering the plains shallow river valley having
and have meandering courses on straight courses.
plains.
These rivers form vast alluvial These rivers flow on rocky areas
plains by depositing sediments. and are not used for navigation.
Many important towns have been These rivers do not bring fertile
developed on the courses of alluvium and do not form
these rivers. alluvium plains
Eg.: Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganga Eg.: Narmada, Tapi, Godavari,
Krishna

5. Compare the east-flowing and the west-flowing rivers of the

Peninsular plateau.
Answer:
West flowing rivers East flowing rivers:
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There are only 2 long West Many major rivers, Mahanadi,
flowing rivers – Narmada and Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna, etc.
Tapi.

They flow into the Arabian Sea. They flow into the Bay of
Bengal.

They have a lesser number of Have many tributaries.

tributaries.

Form estuaries. Forms Deltas.

Carry lesser sediments. Carry larger sediments than West

flowing rivers.

6. Why are rivers important for the country’s economy?

Answer: Rivers have been of fundamental importance throughout
human history. Water from rivers is a basic natural resource, essential
for various human activities. Therefore, riverbanks have attracted
settlers from ancient times. These settlements have now become big
cities. Using rivers for irrigation, navigation, and hydropower
generation are of special significance — particularly to a country like
India, where agriculture is the major source of livelihood for the
majority of its population.
EXTRA QUESTIONS TO BE SOLVED IN NOTEBOOK:
3MKS:

1. Write a short note on Sunderban Delta.

Ans. The Sunderban Delta is the worlds’ largest and the fastest
growing delta.
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Filled by various tributaries, the river Ganga reaches West Bengal.

The Sunderban Delta derived its name the Sundri tree which grows
well in marshland.

It is also the home of Royal Bengal tiger.

2. What is Drainage and drainage basin?

Ans. The term drainage means the river system of an area. It is a

system of flowing water from the higher level to lower level.

Some small streams flowing from different directions come together

to form the main river, which ultimately drains in to a large water
body.

The area drained by a single river system is called a drainage basin.

3. Explain Water Divide with an example.

Ans. Water Divide is an elevated area or uplands which separate two

drainage basins.

Such uplands or elevated areas are known as Water Divide.

‘Ambala’ is located at the water divide between the Indus and Ganga
River.

It does not receive water from either of the two rivers.

4. Write a short note on river Tapi Basin.

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Ans. The Tapi originates in the Satpura ranges in the Betul district of
Madhya Pradesh.
It is much shorter in the length flowing in a rift valley parallel to the
narmada.
Its basin covers the parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra.
The coastal plains are very narrow lying between Western Ghats and
the Arabian Sea.

5. Write a short note on Mahanadi basin.

Ans. The Mahanadi rises in the highlands of Chhattisgarh flowing
through Orissa to reach to Bay of Bengal.
Its length is about 860 km.
The drainage basin includes Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
and Orissa.

6. Write a short note on Krishna basin.

Ans. The Krishna rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar extending
over about 1400 km and reaches the Bay of Bengal.
The Tungabhadra, the Koyana, the Ghatprabha, the Musi and the
Bhima are some of its tributaries.
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are involved in its
drainage system

5MKS:
1. Describe the role of rivers in the economic development.
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Ans. The areas along the banks of rivers have witnessed great cultural
and economic progress since ancient times. Rivers are integral part of
our folklore and folk songs.
Water from the rivers is basic natural resource, essential for human,
agricultural and industrial activities.
Rivers and their associated alluvial soils provide the most productive
agricultural lands of country. Irrigation and generation of hydraulic
energy from rivers have been backbone of the development if an
economy.
Industrial development has flourished along rivers as many industrial
processes rely on water-as a raw material, as a coolant and for the
generation of hydraulic energy.
Rivers provide primary channels of inland transportation, not only
directly in the form of navigable waterways.

2. What are the importances of Lakes?

Ans. Lakes help to regulate the flow of water.
During heavy rainfall it prevents flooding and during the dry season it
helps to maintain an even flow of water.
Lakes can also be used for developing hydraulic power.
Lakes are valuable source of water.
Lakes moderate the climate of the surrounding, maintain the aquatic
ecosystem, enhance natural beauty, helps to develop tourism and
provide recreation.

3. Write a short note on Godavari Basin.

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Ans. The largest Peninsular River is the Godavari which rises from
the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
The length is about 1500 km draining into Bay of Bengal.
Its drainage basin is also the largest among the Peninsular Rivers.
The basin covers the parts of Maharashtra (about 50 percent of the
basin area lays here) Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
Many tributaries join the Godavari such as the Purna, the Wardha, and
the Penganga.
The last three covers a very large area.
It is also known as the ‘Dakshin Ganga’.

7. Write a short note on Brahmaputra River basin.

Ans. The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet east of Mansarowar Lake
very close to the sources of the Indus and the Sutlej.
It is slightly longer than the Indus and flows mostly outside India.
It flows eastward along with the Himalayas.
It takes ‘U’ turn and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a
gorge on reaching the Narmada Barwa.
Here it is known as Dihang. It is joined by many tributaries including
the Dibangm the Lohit, the Kenula to form the Brahmaputra in
Assam.
While in India passing through a high rainfall region it carries a large
volume of water and considerable amount of silt.

8. Write a short note on Ganga River basin.

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Ans. Bhagirathi is the headwater of Ganga which is fed by the
Gangotri Glacier. It is joined by the Alknanda at Deveprayag in
Uttaranchal. The Ganga emerges from mountains on to the plains at
Haridwar.
The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from Himalayas including
major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Kosi, the Ghaghara and Gandak.
The Yamuna River rises from the Yamnotri Glacier in Himalayas
flowing parallel to the Ganga. It meets the Ganga at Allahabad.
The originating place of the Kosi, the Ghaghara and Gandak is the
Nepal Himalayas.
The Chambal, the Betwa and the Son are the main tributaries coming
from the peninsular uplands.
The Ganga flows eastward till Farakka in West Bengal enlarging
water from its right and left bank tributaries.

9. Write a short note on Indus River System.

Ans. The Indus River originates in Tibet, near Lake Mansarowar
flows towards west.
It enters India in the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. A
picturesque gorge is formed in this part.
Many tributaries the Zaskar, the Nubra, the Shyok and the Hunza, join
it in the Kashmir region.
The Indus emerges from mountains at Attock and flows through
Baltistan and Gilgit.
Near Mithankot in Pakistan, the Sutlej, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab
and the Jhelum join together to enter the Indus.
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After this the Indus flows southwards and reaches the Arabian Sea,
east of Karachi.
There is very gentle slope of Indus plain.
The Indus is one of the longest rivers having a total length of 2900
km.
10. Explain the National River Conservation Plan. (any 5 points)
Ans. The central Ganga Authority phase-1 was set up in 1985. It laid
down the policies for works to be taken under the Ganga Action Plan.
The steering Committee of the national Conservation Authority
reviewed the progress of the GAP and necessary correction on the
basis of the lesson learnt and experiences gained from GAP phase-1.
These have been applied to the major polluted rivers of the country
under the NRCP.
The Ganga Action Plan phase-2 has been merged with the NRCP. The
expanded NRCP now covers 152 towns located along 27 interstate
rivers in 16 states.
Under this action plan, pollution abatement works are been taken up
in 57 towns.
A total of 215 schemes of pollution abatement have been sanctioned.
So far, 69 schemes have been competed under this action plan.

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