DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, INDORE

CLASS X
SUBJECT GEOGRAPHY
CH 2 WATER RESOURCES

Q1. What is water scarcity?

Ans. Water scarcity is the shortage of water but it is not only associated with
regions having low rainfall or those that are drought-prone. The availability of
water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the variations in
seasonal and annual precipitation, but water scarcity in most cases is caused by
overexploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different
social groups.

Q2. What are the main causes of water scarcity?

(i) Overpopulation- Water scarcity may be an outcome of a large and growing

population which results in greater demand for water and unequal access of it.

(ii) Commercialisation of agriculture—after the success of the green revolution,

farmers are producing commercial crops. The commercial crops need more water
for irrigation.

(iii) Urbanisation ----- is a another factor for scarcity of water. Since new lifestyles
have developed in the urban cities overexploitation of water continues ,there is
water scarcity.

Q3. Give various methods of rainwater harvesting since ancient times.

Ans. (i) Guls and Kuls:

 In the hilly and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels called
Kuls and Guls in the western Himalayas.
  For the function of irrigation, they are created and used.
 There will be channels of diversion.
 In the state of Himachal Pradesh, they are most often used.
 They perform a very important role during design and operation, and
special care must be taken.

(ii) Inundation channels:

In flood plains of Bengal people used inundation channels in their irrigation fields.

(iii)Khadins and Johads :

In arid and semiarid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rainfed
storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil called
khadins in Jaisalmer and Johads in other parts of Rajasthan.

(iv) Tankas:

Circular holes are made in the ground, lined with fine polished line. In Bikaner,
Phalodi and Barmer of Rajasthan, almost all the houses traditionally had tank or
tankas for storing drinking water.

Q.4. “It is essential to conserve and manage our water resources.” Support the
statement with suitable examples.

Ans. 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.
 Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles
have not only added to water and energy requirements but have further
aggravated the problem.
 In housing societies or colonies, we would find that most of these have their own
groundwater pumping devices to meet their water needs. With the result, fragile
water resources are being overexploited and have caused their depletion in
several cities.
 Q.5. How have multipurpose projects and large dams been the cause of many
new social movements?

 Narmada Bachao Andolan and the Tehri Dam Andolan, etc., were the movements
to resist large-scale displacement of local communities. Local people often had to
give up their land, livelihood and their control over resources for the greater good
of the nation.
 Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern from shifting to commercial crops. It
is responsible for salinisation of the soil. At the same time, it has its social impact
by increasing the social gap between the rich landowners and the landless poor.
 Dams also created conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits
from the same water resource. In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were
agitated over the priority given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during
droughts.
 Interstate water disputes are also common with regard to sharing the costs and
benefits of the multi-purpose projects. For e.g., Krishna-Godavari dispute, is due
to the objections raised by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments regarding
the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra government for a multi-
purpose project.

Q.6. What do you know about the “Bamboo Drip Irrigation System”?

Ans.6. In Meghalaya, a 200 year old system of tapping stream and spring water by
using bamboo pipes,is prevalent.

 Bamboo pipes are used to divert perennial springs on the hilltops to the lower
reaches by gravity.
 The channel sections made of bamboo, divert water to the plant site, where it is
distributed into branches.
 If the pipes pass roads, they are taken high above the land on the free branches.
 Reduced channel sections and diversion units are used at the last stage of water
application. The last channel section enables water to be dropped near the roots
of the plant.

Q.7. Give a brief description of ‘Hydrological cycle’.

Ans.
 Three-fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water, but only a small
proportion of it accounts for freshwater that can be put to use.
 The process of hydrological cycle began with the evaporation process due to heat
of Sun on all water bodies of the earth including seas and oceans.
 These minute particles.of the water then get condensed. In this process of
condensation, clouds are formed with dust particles and pollen grains present in
the atmosphere.
 When saturation takes place, then clouds precipitate in the form of rain or snow.
This fresh water then becomes surface run-off water, in the form of rivers, ponds
and lakes. This water again gets drained into sea or ocean and forms a
hydrological process

Q.8. Highlight the hydraulic structure as a part of water management

programmes intiated in ancient India.

Ans . Here are some examples of hydraulic structures in ancient India

 In the 1st century BG Sringaverapura near Allahabad had sophisticated

water harvesting system channelling the flood water of the river Ganga.
 Evidences of sophisticated irrigation works have also been found in Kalinga
(Odisha), Nagarjunalconda (Andhra Pradesh), Bennur (Karnataka), Kolhapur
(Maharashtra) etc.
 During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and irrigation
systems were extensively built.
 In the period of 11th century, Bhopal lake, one of the largest artificial lakes
of its rime was built.
 The tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi was built by Iltutmish for supplying water to
Siri fort area in the 14th century.

Q.9 Explain the ecological problems being faced due to multi purpose river valley
projects.

Ans. In recent years, the multipurpose projects and large dams have come under
great scrutiny and oppositions for a variety of reasons:

 Regulating and daming of rivers affects the natural flow of rivers causing
poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the
 reservoir, resulting in rockier streambeds and poorer habitats for the rivers
aquatic life.
 Adverse environmental effects in the form of water logging, salinity have
led to the degradation of soil. Cropping patterns of many regions have
changed due to irrigation with farmers shifting to water intensive and
commercial crops.
 Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for the aquatic fauna to
migrate, specially for sapawning.
 The reservoirs that are created on the flood plains also submerge the
existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of
time.

Q.10. “Rain water harvesting system is viable alternative both ways socio
economically and environmentally”. Support the statement with the examples.

Ans. Keeping into the view the disadvantages and rising resistance against the
multipurpose dams, water harvesting system is considered viable alternative both
socio-economically and environmentally. For ex. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is
the most common practice in Shillong, Meghalaya. Though this region receives
the hieghest rainfall in the world, yet the state capital, Shillog faces acute
shortage of water. Nearly every household in the city has a rooftop rainwater
harvesting structure.

Q.11. Write short note on Narmada Bachoo Andolan. Explain the ecological
problems beign faced due to multi purpose river valley projects.

Ans. Pg.no. 27