ABK –SSJ Class X
CH-3 Water Resources
CLASS X : Social Science :Geography
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ABK -SSJ
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1. Write the adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground water resources. [2019]
Or
Analyse the impact of 'water scarcity.'
Ans. Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low rainfall or drought-
prone areas. Impact of water scarcity:
(i) Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to falling ground water levels.
(ii) It will adversely affect water availability.
(iii) This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of the people.
(iv) Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the ecological cycle.
2. What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water scarcity. [2015]
Or
"Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population in India. “Analyse the statement. [2019]
Ans. 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.
These are:
(i) Large growing population-means more water required for domestic use and also to produce more food.
(ii) In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry-season
agriculture.
(iii) More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate higher food production, ie, for doing multiple cropping
and for HYV seeds.
(iv) There is greater demand for water with growing urbanisation and industrialisation.
(v) An unequal access to water among different social groups.
(vi) The quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers
and pesticides used in agriculture.
(vii) Excessive use of water by industries which also require water to generate hydro-electric power to run them.
(viii) Over exploitation of water in the urban areas. Housing societies and colonies have their own ground-water
pumping devices. This causes depletion of fragile water resources in the cities.
3. How intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have posed a great pressure on existing fresh water resources in
India? Explain with two examples for each. (2012)
Ans. Intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have put greater pressure on existing fresh water resources. With
the ever-growing number of industries, the demand for water has grown tremendously:
(i) Industries are heavy users of fresh water as water is required for cooling the machines as well as for the
processing of goods.
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(ii) Also the machines run on the power supplied by the hydel power plants.
(iii) 22 percent of the total electricity is hydro-electric power.
(iv) Rapid urbanisation has led to expansion of industries which increased the requirement of water.
(v) The untreated industrial effluents which are discharged into water bodies are polluting the water and making it
hazardous for human consumption. This is responsible for creating water scarcity.
On the other hand, multiplying urban centres with:
(i) large urban populations and
(ii) urban lifestyles have not only added to water and energy requirements but have further aggravated the problem
by over-drawing the groundwater by using their own groundwater pumping devices for meeting their water needs
for domestic purposes such as cleaning, cooking, washing, etc.
Thus, water resources are being over-exploited which has caused their depletion in several cities
4. What is the need for conservation of water resources? [2015]
Ans. Need for conservation of water resources means:
(i) our water resources are limited and our requirements are increasing day by day. The water resources are
unevenly distributed.
(ii) most of our resources especially in the cities and urban areas are polluted and unsuitable for drinking and other
purposes.
(iii) to safeguard ourselves from health hazards.
(iv) we need to conserve water for the continuation of our livelihoods and to prevent degradation of our natural
ecosystem. To ensure food security and for continuation of our livelihoods.
(v) for productive activities of the nation.
(vi) to prevent degradation of our natural ecosystem.
5. Write some measures adopted for conservation of water resources.
Ans. Measures for water conservation:
(i) Do not overdraw the ground water, recharge the ground water by techniques like rainwater harvesting.
(ii) Avoid wastage of water at all levels.
(iii) Do not pollute the water.
(iv) Increasing the water resources by tapping the rainwater in reservoirs, watershed development programmes, etc.
(v) Adopting water conserving techniques of irrigation, for example, drip irrigation and sprinklers etc., especially in
dry areas. Sufficient water percolation facilities should be increased to help in raising the level of the water table.
6. Explain any three problems faced by local communities due to the construction of large dams. [2013,2017]
Ans. Problems faced by local communities due to the construction of large dams:
(i) Dams have resulted in large-scale displacement of local communities.
(ii) Local people have to give up their land and livelihood.
(iii) Local people do not benefit from such projects as they are even deprived of the local resources on which they
have little control.
(iv) Many settlements and agricultural lands are submerged under water.
7. How was water conserved in ancient India? Give any four examples in support of your answer. [2012]
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Ans. Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times India has been constructing sophisticated
hydraulic structures like dams, reservoirs, embankments and canals for irrigation.
(i) For example, in the first century B.C., Allahabad had sophisticated water harvesting system channelling the flood
water of the river Ganga.
(ii) During the time of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built.
(iii) Sophisticated irrigation works have been found in Kalinga in Odisha, Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh,
Bennur in Karnataka and Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
(iv) Bhopal lake, built in the 11th century, was one of the largest artificial lakes of its time.
(v) In the 14th century, Iltutmish constructed a tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi for supplying water in Siri Fort area.
8. Why are multipurpose river valley projects called 'The Temples of Modern India'? Who first made this
statement? [2014]
Or
Jawahar Lal Nehru proudly proclaimed the 'Dams as the Temples of Modern India'. Analyze this statement. [2013]
Ans. Jawahar Lal Nehru proclaimed that multipurpose projects are 'The Temples of Modern India', because they
were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to development and progress. He believed that these
projects with their integrated water resource management approach would integrate development of agriculture and
the village economy with rapid industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
Dams or multipurpose river valley projects have the following advantages:
(i) They bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity and also provide water for irrigation.
(ii) These projects generate electricity for industries and our homes.
(iii) They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.
(iv) These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.
9. Construction of dams on rivers has caused environmental degradation.' Give reasons to support this statement.
[2015]
Ans. (i) Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow.
(ii) Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
(iii) Lack of sediments results in (a) rockier stream bed and (b) poorer habitat for the river's aquatic life.
(iv) Dams also fragment rivers, making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
(v) The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil, leading to its decomposition over time.
(vi) Flood plains are deprived of silt and khadar, affecting the fertility levels of the soil.
(vii) Construction of dams also faces resistance because of large scale displacement of local communities.
10. "Multi-purpose projects and large dams have been the cause of many new social movements." Highlight the
concerns related to such movements. [2019]
(i) Multi-purpose projects and large dams have been the cause of many new social movements like the 'Narmada
Bachao Andolan' and the 'Tehri Dam Andolan', etc.
(ii) 'Rooftop rainwater harvesting' was commonly practised to store drinking water, especially in Rajasthan.
(iii) Inundation channels for irrigation were developed in the flood plains of West Bengal.
(iv) In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rainfed storage structures, for example,
'Khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.
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(v) In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, all the houses had
underground tanks or 'tankas' built inside the house for storing drinking water. They were a part of the well-
developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
11. Explain how rooftop rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out.
Or, Write the features of the 'tankas' built in the houses of Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer.
Ans. 'Rooftop rainwater harvesting' was commonly practiced to store drinking water, especially in semi-arid and
arid regions like Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer in Rajasthan.
(i) In semi-arid and arid regions, all the houses had underground tankas or 'tankas' for storing drinking water built
inside the house. They were the part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
(ii) The tankas could be as large as a big room. One household in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 metres deep, 4.27
metres long and 2.44 metres wide.
(iii) The tankas were built inside the main house or the courtyard.
(iv) The tanks were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The falling rain would travel down
the pipes and get stored in the underground 'tankas'. The first spell of rain would not be collected as it cleaned the
roof and pipes. The rainwater from subsequent showers was collected.
(v) Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the tanka to beat the summer heat as it would keep the
room cool.
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