Delhi Public School, Varanasi
CHAPTER-3 session -2023-2024
WATER RESOURCES WORKSHEET
Write answers in your fair notebook and submit a notebook in the class .
Q 1 What are the causes of water scarcity in available areas?
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 fertilizers used in agriculture, thus, making it hazardous for
human use.
Q 2 Give a short note on Multi-purpose projects In India.
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.
Q 3 What is a Multi-purpose project? State two purposes, which are fulfilled by multi-purpose projects.
Multi-purpose projects comprises 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.
Q 4 What is the situation regarding water scarcity in post independent India?
Post-independent India witnessed intensive industrialisation and urbanization, creating vast
opportunities for us. Today, large industrial houses are as common places 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 percent of the total electricity produced. Moreover,
multiplying urban centers 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.
Q 5 What were the different methods of traditional rain-water harvesting?
There existed an extraordinary tradition of a 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 rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store drinking water, particularly in
Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. In
arid and 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.
Q 6 Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low rainfall or
drought prone areas.
There are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water:
Large growing population; In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-exploited to
expand irrigated areas and dry- season agriculture; More water required for irrigation purposes
to facilitate higher food production, i. e., for doing multiple cropping and for HYV seeds; There is
greater demand for water with growing urbanization and industrialization; An unequal access to
water among different social groups; The quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted
by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture;
Excessive use of water by industries which also require water to generate hydro-electric power
to run them; and Over exploitation of water in the urban areas.
Q.7. Explain the quantitative and qualitative aspects of water scarcity.
Or
Water is available in abundance in India even then scarcity of water is experienced in major
parts of the country. Explain with four examples.
Ans. (i) Quantitative aspect : This aspect is related to the availability of water resources. The
availability of water resources varies over space and time mainly due to variations in seasonal
and annual precipitation. However, water scarcity in most cases is caused by over-exploitation,
excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.
(ii) Qualitative aspect : Now, let us consider another situation where water is sufficiently
available to meet the needs of the people, but the area still suffers from water scarcity. 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 fertilizers used in agriculture, thus,
making it hazardous for human use.
Q.8. Why is there an urgent need to conserve and manage our water resources ? Mention three
reasons. Or
Why is it necessary to conserve water resources in India ? Explain.
Or
Why is it essential to conserve, and manage our water resources ? Explain any three reasons. ]
Or
Why should we conserve our water resources? Explain any three reasons.
Ans. (i) Precondition for life: Water is necessary for life on earth. It is believed that life originated in water
before it invaded land. Water is in fact a precondition of life. (ii) Water essential for crops: Cultivation of
crops depends on the availability of water. Water dissolves minerals and other nutrients in the ground.
The roots of the plants draw this nutritious water for the soil. India is an agricultural country so
availability of water is a must.
(iii) Water and industries: Industries need water as coolant, solvent, raw material, etc.
(iv) Water for daily life : Water is also used for drinking and domestic consumption. The growing
urbanization with its modern lifestyle has been demanding greater share of water day by day.
(v) Water is an important component of the ecosystem : Conservation of water is also important to
prevent degradation of our natural ecosystems.
(vi) Water scarcity : It is essential to conserve and manage water because its overuse and misuse has led
to water scarcity.
Q.9. Examine the importance of the river valley projects in the development of hydel power and
irrigational facilities in India.
Or
Give any four objectives of the multipurpose river valley projects.
Ans. (i) Generation of Power (electricity) :
These multipurpose projects are the main source of power generation. According to the Economic
Survey, 2013, these produce more than 39,788.40 MW power. They provide us neat, pollution free and
cheapest energy which is the backbone of industry and agriculture.
(ii) Flood Control : These projects control the floods because water can be stored in them. These projects
have converted many ‘rivers of sorrows’ into ‘rivers of boon’. For example, the river Kosi.
(iii) Soil Conservation : They help to conserve the soil because they slow down the speed of water.
(iv) Irrigation : These projects are the main source of irrigation for our country. These irrigate the fields
during the dry seasons. Many perennial canals have been dug and they irrigate dry areas.
Q.10. “In recent years, the multipurpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny.” Give
reasons.
Or
Mention any four disadvantages of multipurpose projects.
Or.
How may the multipurpose river valley projects become harmful for the country ? Explain with four
examples.
Or
Why are multipurpose projects facing resistance ? Explain with three reasons.
Ans. (i) Adverse effect on the fertility of the soil : Due to the construction of dams, there are no annual
floods in the river. And
Because of this, the soil of the downstream region does not get nutrient rich “silt”. This decreases the
fertility of the soil.
(ii) Adverse impact on aquatic life: Due to the construction of dams on the rivers, the fish in the
downstream area do not get sufficient nutrient material. Regulating and damming of rivers affect the
natural flow of water causing poor sediment flow downward, and excessive sedimentation at the bottom
of reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the river's aquatic life. Dams also
fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate for spawning i.e., to produce eggs.
(iii) Displacement of local communities: The building of large dams results in displacement of local
communities. The local people often have to give up their land and livelihood and their meager access
and control over resources for the greater food of the nation.
(iv) Change in the cropping pattern: The multipurpose projects are responsible for providing assured
means of irrigation to farmers. Due to this, most of the farmers have changed the cropping pattern
shifting to water intensive and commercial crops. This has led to Stalinization of soil leading to ecological
imbalance.
Q 11 Answer the following questions :
(i) Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out.
(ii) Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being
carried out to conserve and store water.
i) In semi arid regions of Rajasthan rainwater harvesting is carried out in the following manner:
Houses have traditionally constructed underground tanks or ‘tank’ for storing rainwater for
drinking and other purposes. These are big and are a part of well-developed rooftop rainwater
harvesting system. These tanks are constructed inside the main house or the courtyard and are
connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The rain falling on the rooftop
travels down through the pipe and is stored in these underground tanks . The first spell of rain is
not collected as this water cleans the roof and pipes but rain from subsequent showers is
collected.
During summer when all other sources of water dry up, these tanks remain the best source of
water. Rain water/palar pani is pure and sweet. These tanks also help in keeping the houses cool
due to conduction.
(ii) Rainwater harvesting means capturing rain when it falls. It is done to meet the increasing
demand of water and also to recharge the groundwater. People living in rural and urban areas
have realized the importance of traditional rainwater harvesting methods like the rooftop
storing method and this has been successfully adapted to store and conserve water. The level of
underground water in most urban areas has fallen because of increasing population,
industrialization etc.
In Gendathur village, Mysore, about 200 households have adopted the rooftop rainwater
harvesting method, making the village rich in rainwater. With 80% collection efficiency each
house can collect about 50,000 liters annually. The Tamil Nadu government has made it
compulsory for all the houses to have rooftop rainwater harvesting structures.
