GEOGRAPHY – Chapter 3: Water Resources
Water
Although water covers three-fourths of the earth's surface, just a small
amount of that water is usable freshwater. One renewable resource is water.
Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Manage-
ment
The availability of water resources varies over space and time.
Overuse, over-exploitation, and unequal access to water among various social
classes are the main causes of water scarcity.
In an effort to increase the area under irrigation for dry-season crops, water
resources are being overused.
In certain places, there is enough water to suit everyone's needs. However,
the poor quality of the water in those places continues to cause a shortage of
water.
The need of the hour is to conserve and manage our water resources. How do
we do it?
Protect ourselves from risks to our health.
Assure the continuation of our creative efforts, food security, and our means
of subsistence.
Stop the deterioration of our natural environments.
Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Man-
agement
Water conservation in the past involved the construction of complex hydraulic
structures such as stone-rumble dams, lakes or reservoirs, embankments, and
irrigation canals. In modern-day India, we have carried on this custom by con-
structing dams in the majority of our river basins.
Dams
A dam is a structure that blocks, redirects, or slows the flow of water across it,
frequently resulting in the creation of a lake, impoundment, or reservoir. The
reservoir, not the building, is referred to as the "dam."
Uses of Dams
Dams are built,
To store rainwater and rivers so they can be utilised later to irrigate fields for
farming. for the production of power.
Water supply for business and residential purposes.
Flood prevention.
Recreation, fishing, and inland navigation.
Side Effects of Creating Dams
The natural flow of rivers is impacted by damming and regulation.
The aquatic life in the rivers has worse habitats.
It is difficult for aquatic animals to travel over fragmented rivers.
The vegetation and soil that are already there are submerged by dams built
on floodplains, which eventually causes them to decompose.
Many new environmental movements, such as the "Narmada Bachao An-
dolan" and the "Tehri Dam Andolan," have been sparked by the construction
of huge dams.
The locals frequently had to give up their land, means of subsistence, and au-
thority over resources in order to build the dam.
The failure of the projects to fulfil the goals for which they were constructed
was the main source of criticism. Although the majority of the dams were built
to regulate floods, some of the dams have caused floods. Soil erosion has also
been extensively caused by dams. Pollution, pests, water-borne illnesses, and
earthquakes have all been linked to excessive water use.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a straightforward technique for storing rainfall for
later use. Rainwater collected can be stored, used to multiple uses, or used
straight for recharging. Various techniques have been used for rainwater har-
vesting in various locations -
For agricultural purposes, people in hilly and mountainous areas have con-
structed diversion channels similar to the Western Himalayan "guls" or
"kuls."
Rainwater harvesting on rooftops is a popular method of storing drinking wa-
ter, especially in Rajasthan. To irrigate their fields, inhabitants in Bengal's
flood plains created inundation channels.
Agricultural fields in semi-arid and arid regions were transformed into rain-fed
storage structures called "khadins" in Jaisalmer and "Johads" in other
parts of Rajasthan, which allowed the water to stand and saturate the soil.
The tanks are constructed inside the main house or the courtyard and are a
part of the sophisticated rooftop rainwater gathering system.
This is mostly used to save rainwater in Rajasthan, especially in the regions of
Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer. Since the "tanka" would keep the chamber cool,
several houses have built underground rooms next to it to escape the summer
heat.
The state of Tamil Nadu is the first in India to require rooftop rainwater col-
lecting systems for every home in the region. Defaulters are subject to legal
penalties.
QUESTION BANK
Class: 10 CBSE
Very Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark Each)
1. 1. Define water scarcity.
2. 2. Name any two multipurpose river valley projects in India.
3. 3. Which state leads in rainwater harvesting efforts in India?
4. 4. What is the primary source of irrigation in India?
5. 5. Mention one traditional method of water conservation.
6. 6. What is a dam?
7. 7. Name any two rivers where dams are constructed under the Narmada Bachao An-
dolan.
Short Answer Type Questions (3 Marks Each)
8. 1. Explain any three causes of water scarcity in India.
9. 2. State the objectives of rainwater harvesting.
10. 3. Why are multipurpose river projects facing resistance? Give three reasons.
11. 4. Discuss the role of dams in flood control and irrigation.
12. 5. How does water scarcity affect food security?
13. 6. Describe any three traditional methods of rainwater harvesting in India.
14. 7. How do industries contribute to water pollution?
Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks Each)
15. 1. Water is a renewable resource but its overuse and misuse have led to water
scarcity. Discuss.
16. 2. Explain the importance and impact of multipurpose river valley projects in India.
17. 3. Describe in detail the objectives, methods, and importance of rainwater harvest-
ing.
18. 4. How does the construction of large dams lead to environmental and social issues?
19. 5. Discuss how traditional methods of water conservation are still relevant in mod-
ern India.
20. 6. Explain how water scarcity can be managed through integrated water resources
management.
21. 7. Analyse the interrelationship between water resources and agriculture in India.
22. 8. How do different regions of India practice rainwater harvesting differently? Give
examples.
23. 9. Describe the causes, impact, and remedies of water pollution in India.
10. Why is sustainable management of water resources necessary? What steps can be
taken at the individual and community level?
