03. water resources:

Water : The three-fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water, but very small percentage of fresh water is usable to us.
This freshwater is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water which is continually renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. Hence water is a renewable resource.
Water Scarcity : The lack of fresh water as compared to demand in a region is known as water Scarcity
Causes of Water Scarcity
(i) Over-exploitationof water resources : Water scarcity is caused by over-exploitation of water, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups .
(ii) Growing population : A large population requires more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. Hence, water resources are being over-exploited. Most of the Indian cities are facing the problem of water due to growing population.
(iii) Industrialization and Urbanization: Industries are heavy users of water and also require power to run them. This power comes from hydroelectric power. Therefore the ever-increasing number of industries has exerting pressure on freshwater resources.

Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have added to water and energy requirements

Large-scale migration from rural to urban areas is causing over exploitation of water resources.

(iv) Water Pollution : Where water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people, but, the area still suffering from water scarcity due to bad quality of water.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

Government of India Launched Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide safe and adequate drinking water in rual areas through individual household tap connections.
The Goal of JJM is to supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household.
Hydraulic Structures.
Hydraulic structures are constructed to store flowing water or reduce the speed of its flow or redirect its path.
Such structures have been constructed since ancient times to conserve water
For Examples dams built of stone rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments and canals for irrigation.
Hydraulic Structures in Ancient India
A well-developed water harvesting system was constructed during the first century BCE in Srigaverapura near Prayagraj to channelise the floodwater of river Ganga.
Dams, lakes, and irrigation systems were constructed during the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
Evidences of well-planned irrigation works have also been found in Kalinga, (Odisha), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), Bennur (Karnataka), Kolhapur (Maharashtra)
In the 11th century, the largest artificial lake of its time was built in Bhopal.
Hauz Khas tank in Delhi was constructed by Iltumish for water supply to the Siri Fort area.
Multipurpose Projects
Projects which is fulfils more than one purposes at the same time is called multipupurpose projects.

Advantages of multi-purpose river projects
1. Electricity generation
2. Irrigation
3. Flood control
4. Fish breeding
5.Recreation
6. Water supply for domestic and industrial uses
Disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects
1. Community displacement : Displaces the local people of the place where it is created. Tribal communities are worst affected by dam projects.
2. Effect on sediment flow : The natural flow of water is disturbed by the multipurpose project. Due to this sediment flow become shlow and sediments are deposited in the resevevoir
3. Effect on aquatic life : Habitats of aquatic life is destroyed due to excessive sedimentation in river beds. Dams fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate
4. Inter-state water disputes : Large projects on rivers have been the cause of dispute between many states. Inter-state water disputes regarding sharing of costs and benefits of multi-purpose projects are increasing. Ex. Krishna-Godavari dispute (Between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh )

5. Flooding: The dams that were constructed to control floods, have flooded due to sedimentation in their reservoir. The big dams are unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of excessive rainfall. Floods not only cause loss of life and property but also cause large-scale soil erosion.
6. Effect on Environmental : Multipurpose projects have caused harm to the environment. Large dams have been the cause of many new environmental movementssuch as the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’
Dams as Multipurpose Projects
A dam is a wall or a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow of water. Dams are create reservoirs or lakes.
Dams can be classified on the basis of structure and height.
Based on structure dams can be classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry dams
Based on the height, dams can be classified as large dams and major dams or alternatively as low height dams, medium height dams and high dams.
Dam water is used for more than one purpose such as irrigation, water conservation, electricity generation, flood control, fish breeding, etc. Hence, dams are knownt as multi-purpose projects .
For example: Bhakra Nangal dam on the Satluj Beas river basin is used for both irrigation and hydel power generation.
Hirakund Project on Mahanadi basin helps conservation of water and flood control.
Sardar Sarovar Dam : Sardar Sarovar Dam has been built over the Narmada River in Gujarat.
This is one of the largest water resource projects of India covering four states—Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The Sardar Sarovar project built to meet the requirement of water in drought-prone and desert areas of Gujaratand Rajasthan

Narmada Bachao Andolan

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is an Indian social movement.

Narmada Bachao Andolan is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) that mobilised tribal, farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada river in Gujarat

It originally focused on the environmental issues related to trees that would be submerged under the dam water.

Recently it has re-focused to providing rehabilitation facilities to poor citizens and displaced people from the government.

Dams As Temples of Modern India
Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the ‘temples of modem India’, Because the dams would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a method to collect and store the rain water for future use.

Needs/Objective of the rainwater harvesting

(i) To recharge groundwater levels.

(ii) To make water availablility.

(iii) To avoid the flooding of roads.

(iv) To improve the quality of groundwater.

(v) To reduces water scarcity.

(vi) To reduces soil erosion

(vii) To reduce surface run off

Traditional Methods of Water Harvesting

Diversion channels : People built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture in hilly regions.

Johads and Khadins : In arid and semi-arid regions of rajasthan agricultural fields are used for storing rainwater. The water is allowed to stand in these fields, which moistens the soil. They are known as johads in some parts of Rajasthan and khadins in Jaisalmer.

Inundation channels : These are long canals constructed from rivers In the flood plains of Bengal that carry excess water to agricultural fields during heavy rains and floods

Rooftop rainwater harvesting : ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly used to store drinking water in Rajasthan.

In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Badmer, all the houses had underground tanks or ‘tankas’ built inside the house for storing drinking water.

They are the best traditional methods to harvest rainwater.

They are connected to the roofs of the houses through a pipe

The rainwater through the pipe is stored in these underground ‘tankas’.

Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer heat to keep the room cool.

Bamboo Drip Irrigation System :

Bamboo Drip Irrigation is one of the ancient irrigation systems .

Bamboo Drip Irrigation System is a 200 year old system which is used in Meghalaya.

This is a system of tapping stream and spring water using bamboo pipes. The water reaches the target plant in the form of droplets

The flow of water into the pipes is controlled by manipulating the pipe positions.

The bamboo drip irrigation system is based on gravity

18-20 litres of water flowing through the entire network, gets reduced to 18 to 20 drops per minute at the end of the network

Tamil Nadu is the first state in India which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters.

Name any one river valley project which has significantly contributed to the loss of forests.
Sardar Sarovar Dam
How much of the earth’s surface is covered with water
Three-fourth
Which largest artificial lake was built in 11th century?
Bhopal lake.
Write the major sources of freshwater in India?
1. Ground water 2. Surface waters
In which state Bamboo Drip Irrigation is prevalent?
Meghalaya.
In which region, people built ‘Guls’ or ‘Kuls’ for irrigation?
Western Himalayas.
On which river Bhakhra Nangal Dam has been constructed?
River Satluj.
On which river has the Hirakud Dam been constructed?
River Mahanadi.
On which river has the Tehri Dam been constructed?
River Ganga.
What is the contribution of hydroelectricity in the total generation of electricity ?
22%
Which river is known as the ‘River of Sorrow’?
Damodar river.
Name the river on which Sardar Sarovar dam is built.
Sardar Sarovar dam is built on the Narmada.
In which regions the release of water from dams during heavy rains aggravated the food situation in 2006?
Maharashtra and Gujarats
In which pasts of India Khadins and Johads are built?
Rajasthan
Which water is recharged by roof-top rainwater harvesting technique?
Ground water.
Which sate of India has a system of inundation canals to irrigate their felds?
West Bengal
Name the first and the only state in India which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state.
Tamil Nadu
How has Shillong solved the problem of acute shortage of water ?
Bamboo drip irrigation systems and Roof top rain water harvesting.
What is water scarcity
The lack of fresh water as compared to demand in a region is known as water Scarcity
What is a dam
A dam is a wall or a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow of water.
How has Tamil Nadu solved the problem of acute shortage of water ?
Tamil Nadu has solved the problem of acute shortage of water by rooftop water harvesting techniques.
Which sates are involved in the Krishna-Godavari dispute?
Kamstaka and Andhra Pradesh.
Define the term Tankas.
Tankas are the Underground tank built inside the house for storing drinking water in semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan
Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.
Surface water evaporates to forms clouds, and returns to the surface in the form of rain.Thus Water is continually renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. Hence water is a renewable resource.
What is a multipurpose river valley project? Name any two Multipurpose Projects of India.
Projects which is fulfils more than one purposes at the same time is called multipupurpose projects.
(i) Bhakra Nangal Project
(ii) Hirakund Project
Name two social movements which were against the multipurpose projects. Who are benefitted from such projects

Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Dam Andolan.
The landowners and large farmers, industrialists are benefitted from such projects
Name two techniques of rooftop rainwater harvesting?
(i) Recharge through Hand Pump
(ii) Recharge through Abandoned Dugwel
What was considered as a viable alternative to the multipurpose projects and why ?
Due to the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multipurpose projects, water harvesting system is a viable alternative socio-economically and environmentally.
Who proclaimed the dams as the temples of modern India ? Give reason.
Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the ‘temples of modem India’, Because the dams would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
1. Development of agriculture
2. Growth of the urban and village economy.
3. Rapid industrialisation
How has irrigation changed the cropping pattern? What is its impact on the ecological and social landscape ?
Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifted to water intensive and commercial crops.
Impact on social landscape:- This transformation has increased the social gap between the richer landowners and the landless poor.
Impact on ecological landscape : It has resulted in ecological problems like salinisation of the soil.
Write the features of the ‘tankas’ built in the houses of Bikaner, Phalodi and Banner.
(i) The tankas could be as large as a big room;
(ii) The tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
(iii) The tankas were built inside the main house or the courtyard.
(iv) The tankas were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.
(v) The rainwater can be stored in the tankas
“Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population”. Justify.
(i) A large population requires more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. Hence, water resources are being over-exploited.
(ii) Most of the Indian cities are facing the problem of water due to growing population. .
Mention any four main objectives of multi -purpose river valley projects.
1. Electricity generation
2. Irrigation
3. Flood control
4. Fish breeding
5.Recreation
6. Water supply for domestic and industrial uses
Explain three ways in which irrigation schemes have changed the social landscape of the region.
(i) Social gap between rich and poor : it has transformed the social landscape i.e. It has increased the social gap between the rich landowners and the landless poor
(ii) Social movements : Multipurpose projects and large dams have been the cause of many new social movements like the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’, etc.
(iii) Displacement of the local people : Local people often had to give up their land, livelihood and their resources for the greater good of the nation.
How have intensive industrialization and urbanization posed a great pressure on existing freshwater resources in India. Explain.
(i) Industries are heavy users of water and also require power to run them. This power comes from hydroelectric power. Therefore the ever-increasing number of industries has exerting pressure on freshwater resources.
(ii) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have added to water requirements. Due to this groundwater is over-exploiting
(iii) Large-scale migration from rural to urban areas is causing over exploitation of water resources.
(iv) Industrial waste and urban waste cause water pollution. Most of the rivers are polluted due to the waste released from cities.
“Multipurpose projects have failed to achieve the purpose for which they were built”. Justify by giving reasons.
(i) The dams that were constructed to control floods, have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoirs.
(ii) The big dams have mostly been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of excessive rainfall
(iii) During heavy rainfall the authorities have to release water from dams which leads to flood situation.
(iv) The floods have caused extensive soil erosion.
(v) Multipurpose projects also lead to land degradation.
What is Bamboo Drip Irrigation? Mention any two features of it.
Bamboo Drip Irrigation System is a 200 year old system which is used in Meghalaya.
This is system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipe and transporting water from higher to lower regions through gravity.
Features:
1. 18-20 litres of water flowing through the entire network, gets reduced to 18 to 20 drops per minute at the end of the network
2. The flow of water into the pipes is controlled by manipulating the pipe positions.
Why we should conserve our water resources Explain any three reasons.
(i) The overexploitation of underground water often results in the lowering of water table. So, we should conserve water in order to increase the groundwater level
(ii) The growth of population has resulted in water scarcity.So to prevent the scarcity of water we should conserve more and more water
(iii) The quality of water is badly affected by domestic and industrial wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers, So,we must ensure the conservation of water resources to safeguard our health.
“Water is a very important and critcal resousce in India.” Support the statement by explaining any three points.”
Or What is importance of water ?
(i) Water is a basic need of life for survival of living things.
(ii) Water is used for hydro electricity production.
(iii) Water is used for agricultural purposes.
(iv) Water is used for domestic purposes – Cooking, Drinking, Washing.
(v)Used in manufacturing industries.
(vi) Water is used for transportation.
(vii) In industries water is used as a coolant.
Why is groundwater a highly overused resource?
Groundwater is a highly overused resource because of the following reasons:
(i) Ground water is over-exploited to meet the high demand of water for driking and domestic purpose due to population growth.
(ii) Groundwater is also over-exploited for irrigation purpose for higher food grain production for large population .
(iii) Groundwater is also over-exploited for various purposes in industries due to Industrialization.
How do increasing number of industries exert pressure on existing freshwater resources ?
(i) Large amount of water is used in Industries for industrial purpose.
(ii) Industries require power to run, which is obtained from hydro-electric power.
(iii) Most of the Indian rivers are polluted due to toxic chemicals which are released by industries.
(iv) Industries release harmful chemicals which cause water pollution
Why is rooftop rainwater harvesting important in Rajasthan? Explain.
(i) The rainwater stored in tankas is an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources are dried up.
(ii) The rainwater which is clled "palar pani" in rajasthan is considered the purest form of natural water.
(iii) Many houses construct underground rooms adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.
(iv) There is lack of perennial rivers in Rajasthan.
(v) The rainfall is not reliable in this region.
Why are different water harvesting systems considered a viable alternative both socio-economically and environmentally in a country like India?
(i) Water harvesting is a very cheap and affordable method of conservation of water.
(ii) Rainwater harvesting techniques are more environmental friendly as compare to multipurpose river projects.
(iii) Indian people have a thorough understanding of rainfall patterns and soil types. So they have developed techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, and flood water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and water needs.
Highlight any three hydraulic structures as part of water management programmes initiated in ancient India along with the period when they were built.
1. A well-developed water harvesting system was constructed during the first century BCE in Srigaverapura near Prayagraj to channelise the floodwater of river Ganga.
2. Dams, lakes, and irrigation systems were constructed during the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
3. In the 11th century, the largest artificial lake of its time was built in Bhopal.
4. In 14th Century Hauz Khas tank in Delhi was constructed by Iltumish for water supply to the Siri Fort area .
How has agriculture aggravated the problem of water scarcity in India ? Explain.
(i) Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water.
(ii) A large population requires more water to produce more food. Hence, to higher food production, water resources are being over-exploited.
(iii) Due to irrigation facilities many farmers have shifted to water intensive and commercial crops. These crrops need more water as compared to traditional crops.
(iv) Ground water level is falling due to excessive use of ground water for irrigation.
What is rainwater harvesting ? What are the need /objectives of the rain water harvesting ?
Rainwater harvesting is a method to collect and store the rain water for future use.
Needs/Objective of the rainwater harvesting
(i) To recharge groundwater levels.
(ii) To make water availablility.
(iii) To avoid the flooding of roads.
(iv) To improve the quality of groundwater.
(To reduce ground water pollution)
(v) To reduces water scarcity.
(vi) To reduces soil erosion
(vii) To reduce surface run off
Explain the ecological problems being faced due to the multi-purpose river projects.
(i) Due to excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir the habitats of aquatic life are destroyed. The construction of the project destroys with natural habitat of the animals, birds and wild animals
(ii) Dams also fragment rivers which makes migration of aquatic organisms difficult.
(iii) The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains submerge the existing vegetation and soil
(iv) Irrigation has also changed cropping patterns in many areas and farmers are shifting to water-intensive and commercial crops. This has caused major ecological problems like soil salinity.
What are the advantages/merits and disadvantages/demerits of multi-purpose river projects.
Advantages:
1. These are the main source of power generation.
2. These projects control the floods
3. These projects are the main source of irrigation
4. These projects are provide water for domestic and industrial uses.
5. These projects provide recreation/Tourism facilities
6. These projects are helpful in fish breeding
Disadvantages
1. These projects affect the natural flow of water.
2. These projects lead to large-scale displacements
3. These projects bring changes in cropping pattern
4. These projects adversely affect on aquatic life
5. They fail to control floods during excessive rainfall.
6. These projects lead to Interstate water disputes
Describe any four traditional methods of rainwater harvesting adopted in different parts of India.
“Rainwater harvesting system is viable alternative both socially, economically and environmentally”. Support the statement with three examples
1. Johads and Khadins : In arid and semi-arid regions of rajasthan agricultural fields are used for storing rainwater. The water is allowed to stand in these fields, which moistens the soil. They are known as johads in some parts of Rajasthan and khadins in Jaisalmer.
2. Inundation channels : These are long canals constructed from rivers In the flood plains of Bengal that carry excess water to agricultural fields during heavy rains and floods
3. Tankas : ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly used to store drinking water in Rajasthan. In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Badmer, all the houses had underground tanks or ‘tankas’ built inside the house for storing drinking water. They are connected to the roofs of the houses through a pipe The rainwater through the pipe is stored in these underground ‘tankas’.
4, Guls and Kuls : People built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture in hilly regions.
What are the factors which are responcible for the scarcity of water in India ?
(i) Over-exploitation of water resources: Water scarcity is caused by over-exploitation of water, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups. Large-scale migration from rural to urban areas is causing over exploitation of water resources.
(ii) Growing population : A large population requires more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. Hence, water resources are being over-exploited. Most of the Indian cities are facing the problem of water due to growing population.
(iii) Industrialization and Urbanization: Industries are heavy users of water and also require power to run them. This power comes from hydroelectric power. Therefore the ever-increasing number of industries has exerting pressure on freshwater resources.
Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have added to water and energy requirements
(iv) Water Pollution : Where water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people, but, the area still suffering from water scarcity due to bad quality of water.
Is it possible that an area or region may have ample water resources but is still facing water scarcity Explain with the help of three relevant examples.
Yes, it is possible that an area or region may have ample water resources but is still facing water scarcity. Most of our cities are facing this problem due to bad quality of water .
(i) In most of our cities there is no shortage of water But it gets polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, which is unfit for consumption.
(ii) Most of our cities are in the banks of rivers, but rivers have been turned into toxic streams due to polution.
(iii) Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population and consequent greater demands for water, and unequal access to it

03. water resources:

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