WATER RESOURCES

TOPICS (2022-2023)

WATER SCARCITY AND THE NEED FOR WATER CONSERVATION AND

MANAGEMENT
MULTI- PURPOSE RIVER PROJECTS AND INTEGRATED WATER
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
RAINWATER HARVESTING

Q. Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.

The freshwater is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water that is continually
being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. All water moves within the
hydrological cycle ensuring that water is a renewable resource.

Q. What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?

Water scarcity is the shortage of water, but it is not only associated with regions having low
rainfall or those that are drought prone.

Causes of water scarcity

 water scarcity in most cases is caused by overexploitation, excessive use,

and unequal access to water among different social groups.

 water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population and consequent
greater demands for water.
 industrialisation and urbanisation,
 High standard of living,
 Global warming.

Multi-Purpose River Valley Projects

These are those river valley projects that serve multiple purposes such as

Advantages
  Irrigation
  Electricity generation
  Flood control
 Water supply for domestic and industrial uses
 Recreation
  Inland navigation
 Fish breeding

Disadvantages of Multi-Purpose Projects

 Regulating the flow of rivers results in poor sediment flow and excessive
sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
 This results in rockier stream beds that are not suitable for sustaining the aquatic life.
 Dams control the flow of rivers, which creates difficulty for the aquatic animals to
migrate.
 Dams also submerge the nearby vegetation and habitats.
 Multipurpose projects cause large scale displacement of people.
 Extensive irrigation causes the salinisation of soil.
 The sedimentation at the base of the reservoir causes floods in the event of heavy
rainfall.

Narmada Bachao Andolan

 A non-governmental organization (NGO).

 Against the Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada River in Gujarat.

 Its focus is on environmental imbalance created by the dam and also on the
rehabilitation of the displaced people.

 Mobilised tribes, farmers and environmentalists

Roof-Top Rainwater Harvesting

 Rainwater is collected in underground tanks connected to the rooftop through pipes.

 Rain falling on rooftops travels down the pipes to the tanks and is stored for future
usage.
 Also used for recharging hand pumps and tube wells.
 Most common is the desert districts of Rajasthan.

Q. Describe the procedure for rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Rooftop rainwater harvesting involves several steps as follows.

  Rooftop rainwater is collected using a PVC pipe.

   The collected water is filtered by using sand and bricks.
 Water is taken to the sump through underground pipes for immediate use.
 Excess water is taken from the sump to the well.
 Water in the well recharges the underground

Explain any three reasons due to which large dams have come under great
opposition in recent years.

In recent years, multi-purpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and
opposition for a variety of reasons.

Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow causing poor sediment flow and
excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and
poorer habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.

Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for
spawning. The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains also submerge the existing
vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period.

Examine the ill effects of industrialization and urbanization on water resources.

OR

How have intensive industrialization and urbanization posed a great pressure on existing
freshwater resources in India? Explain.

 Large industrial houses and multinational corporations use large quantities of

water. They also require power to run themselves. Nearly 22% of energy comes
from hydroelectric power.
 Urban centres with large and growing population have added to water and
energy requirements. The housing societies have underground pumping devices
to draw water and meet their water needs.
 A large population not only needs more water but also more food. Hence water
resources are overexploited to expand irrigated areas.

Q. Water resources are depleting fast in India and water is a necessity for life. Suggest three
measures to conserve water.

Water is a resource of utmost importance and waterbodies should not be polluted. Given the
present scenario, even the multi-purpose projects are under objection.
  Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater, groundwater and river water can be
harvested and used for agriculture purposes and moisten the soil.
 Do not let the faucet run while brushing teeth, bathing, or cleaning vegetables.
 Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings.

Q. Why is rooftop rainwater harvesting important in Rajasthan? Explain.

 The rainwater stored in tankas is an extremely reliable source of drinking water

when all other sources are dried up.

 Rainwater is considered the purest form of natural water.

 Many houses have constructed underground rooms adjoining the tankas to beat
the summer heat, as it would keep the room cool.

  There is a lack of perennial rivers in Rajasthan.

 The rainfall is very low.

Q. “Water is a very important and critical resource in India.” Support the statement by
explaining any three points.

  Water resources are a significant part of the ecological cycle, which enable the
existence of all living beings on the earth.

 Water resources help to carry out several agricultural and agriculture-related

activities, thus playing a major role in the development of agricultural
production.

 Water also contributes significantly to the development of industry as it

supplies water to various water-based and power-based industries.

Q. What is palar pani? What is its significance in the arid regions of Rajasthan?

The rainwater which is stored in underground tanks is potable water. It is a reliable source of
drinking water. It is called palar pani.

  It is the main source of drinking water when all other sources have dried up.

  It is considered the purest form of drinking water.

   In summer, these tanks would keep the underground rooms, adjoining them,
cool.

Q. Describe any three different rainwater harvesting systems practised in India.

  In hills and mountainous regions, people-built diversion channels like guls or
kuls for agriculture.
  Inundation canals were built in the floodplains of Bengal, to irrigate the fields.
 In arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, agricultural fields were converted
into room-fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the
soil.

Q. Why is the need for water increasing day by day? Explain three reasons.

 A large population means more water is required not only for domestic use but
also for increasing food production. To increase food production, water
resources are over-exploited to increase the area under irrigation and dry season
agriculture. Some of the rich farmers have their own wells in their farms for
irrigation to increase food production. This in turn has resulted in lowering of
groundwater levels, which affects water availability.

 Multinational companies are the heavy users of freshwater for power, which
puts tremendous pressure on water resources. Moreover, multiplying urban
centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have not only
added to water and energy needs but have further aggravated the problem.

  In cities or housing colonies, they have their own groundwater pumping
devices to meet their water needs, resulting in over-exploitation and depletion
of water resources in many cities.
 MCQ QUESTIONS

Q. Why do some people oppose dams?

Some people oppose dams because this may submerge the land for cultivation and disrupt the
lives of the displaced people.

Q. Explain any two consequences of changing crop pattern due to irrigation.

   It has resulted in ecological problems like salinisation of the soil.
 It has also transformed the social landscape by increasing the gap between the
rich landowners and landless poor.

Adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground water resources:

 Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to falling ground
water levels.
 It will adversely affect water availability.
 This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of the people.
 Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the ecological cycle.

Main causes of water pollution:

Domestic wastes, especially urban sewers; industrial wastes are disposed off in the water
without proper treatment; chemical effluents from industries and from agricultural sector; and
many human activities, e.g., religious rituals and immersing of idols, etc. in the water also
pollute water.

Q. What is a dam?

A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs, or retards the flow, creating a
reservoir, lake, or impoundment. A dam is the reservoir and not the whole structure.

Q. “Jawahar Lai Nehru pro-claimed that multipurpose projects are ‘The Temples of Modem
India” Justify the statement.

He believed that these projects with their integrated water resource management approach
would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid
industrialization and growth of the urban economy.

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