WATER RESOURCES

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Water Resources
Water is one of the most important resources on the Earth. Although 71% of the total
surface of the Earth is covered with water, only 1% of freshwater is available for direct
human use. Evaporation of water from oceans and precipitation in the form of rainfall-parts
of the water cycle-ensure the continuous availability of freshwater. However, water is
becoming a scarce resource. India is facing an acute shortage of water supply. India receives
about 4% of the global precipitation and ranks 133 in the world in terms of availability of
water per person in a year.
Reasons for Scarcity of Water in India
The following reasons can be attributed to the scarcity of water in India:
• A large and growing population has resulted in the scarcity of water resources in the
country.
• To provide food resources for such a vast population, water resources are overused to
irrigate agricultural fields. Indiscriminate use of wells and tube wells has led to a
considerable decline in the water table.
• The establishment of various industries has resulted in the further exploitation of water
resources. The discharge of industrial effluents has also degraded the quality of water.
• In India, generation of hydroelectricity on a large scale has also put pressure on the
water resources.
• Urban centres have multiplied in the country. Many houses and housing societies have
their own independent boring devices. This has further depleted the water table.
• In India, many places or regions may have sufficient water resources but may still suffer
from water scarcity. This may be because of the deterioration in the quality of drinking
water. Disposal of household and industrial wastes and the use of insecticides and
pesticides in agriculture may result in worsening of the quality of water.
Multi-purpose River Projects
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. 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. Local people often had to
give up their land, livelihood and their meagre access and
control over resources for the greater good of the nation.
Dams: A dam is a barrier across flowing water that
obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a
reservoir, lake or impoundment. “Dam” refers to the

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reservoir rather than the structure.

Main objectives or Advantages of Multipurpose Project:
• Generation of Power: They produce neat, pollution free and cheapest energy which is
the back bone of industry and agriculture. According to the economic survey 2005-06
these produce more than 30,000 M.W. power.
• Flood Control: These projects control the flood because water can be stored in them.
These projects have converted many ‘rivers of sorrow’ into river of boon. Example River
Kosi.
• Soil Conservation: These conserve the soil because they slow down the speed of water.
• Irrigation: They irrigate the fields during the dry seasons. Many canals have been dug
and they irrigate dry areas.
• Afforestation: Trees are systematically planted in and around reservoirs. This helps in
preserving “Wild life” and natural ecosystem.
• Water Navigation: They provide for Inland water navigation through main river or canal.
It is the cheapest means of transport for heavy goods.
• Fisheries: These provide ideal condition for the breeding of fish. Choosen varieties of
fish are allowed to grow.
• Tourist Centres: These projects are well cared and are scientifically developed. So these
become the centre of tourist attraction.
Negative Impact of Building Big Dams
At present, many big dams are constructed in our country. These are called multipurpose
dams as they help in the generation of electricity and provide water for irrigation and
industrial uses. Recently, these multipurpose dams have come under attacks from
environmentalists because of the following reasons:
• Damming of rivers and regulating their flow result in excessive sedimentation at the
bottom of the reservoir. This may hamper aquatic life and their migration to other water
bodies.
• Building of dams result in the submergence of land and vegetation. This results in the
decomposition of vegetation.
• Construction of large dams results in the displacement of villagers and communities. The
villagers have to give up their lands and their means of livelihood.
• Large forest areas are also submerged because of the building of dams. This threatens
our biodiversity.
• As dams provide water for irrigation, intensive irrigation leads to salinity of soil.
• Frequently, the water in large dams is used for the benefit of the urban population and
the rural population is often left out. This further widens the gap between the rich and
the poor.
• Dams which were initially built to control floods are now causing floods because of
sedimentation. In case of excessive rainfall, the release of water from dams often floods
the area, causing damage to lives and property.

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• Land degradation, water-borne diseases and pollution are some other effects of building
large dams.
It has been stressed that it is more beneficial to build small check dams and small reservoirs
in order to deal with the problem of water scarcity. It not only provides water for irrigation
at the time of need but also recharges groundwater.
Hydraulic Structures in Ancient India
• In the first century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad had
sophisticated water harvesting system channeling the flood
water of the river Ganga.
• During the time of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and
irrigation systems were extensively built.
• Evidences of sophisticated irrigation works have also been
found in Kalinga,(Odisha), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), Bennur (Karnataka),
Kolhapur(Maharashtra), etc.
• In the 11th Century, Bhopal Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes of its time was built.
• In the 14th Century, the tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi was constructed by Iltutmish for
supplying water to Siri Fort area.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a technique of collecting and storing rainwater for domestic use. It
is done in the following ways:
• Rainwater on the rooftop is first collected using
a PVC pipe. Water is then filtered by using sand
and bricks.
• Water is then taken down either to a sump (a
hollow structure or a depression where liquids
collect) for immediate use or to a well or any
other structure which is dug in the premises of a
house.
• Water from this well can be used later for
domestic consumption. It also recharges the
water table.
India has a long tradition of water harvesting. The technique differed from regions to
regions and was also called by different names. Rain roof water harvesting was practised in
Rajasthan and in Bengal. Long canals were taken out from large rivers which received water
during flooding of the river (inundation canals) in dry regions of western India. Agricultural
fields were converted into rain-fed storage structures. This helped the soil to gain moisture.
In Rajasthan, many houses had underground storage tanks (known as ‘tanka’). Rainwater
from the sloping roofs of the house was collected into these underground tanks through

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pipes.
Rainwater harvesting is one of the most important methods to deal with the scarcity of
water. It not only provides water for domestic use during the summer but also recharges
the water table.
Different methods have been adopted in different areas for Rain Water Harvesting.
• In hill and mountainous regions, people have built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or
‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
• “Rooftop rainwater harvesting” is commonly practised 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 such as ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in
other parts of Rajasthan.
• The tankas are part of the well-developed rooftop
rainwater harvesting system and are built inside
the main house or the courtyard. This is mainly
practised in Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner,
Phalodi and Barmer areas for saving the rainwater.
Many houses have constructed underground
rooms adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer
heat as it would keep the room cool.
• 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.

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India: Major Rivers and Dams

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