Class :X

Subject : Geography
WATER RESOURCES

Introduction
All living beings require water for their existence and survival. In fact without water
there would be no life on the
earth.

The utility of water is immense :

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(A) It is required for domestic purposes like cooking, drinking and washing etc.
(B) It is used for agriculture, pastoral industry and manufacturing industries.

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(C) Water is also used to harness hydro-electric power.
About three-fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water, that means there is
no shortage of water.
Inspite of all this most of the countries of the world are facing water crisis. This is

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because only a small
proportion of water accounts for fresh water that can be put to use.
The fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water.

Water Scarcity
Water scarcity: Shortage of water as compared to its demand is known as water
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scarcity.

Factors responsible for water scarcity:

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1. Growing Population :
It is one of the basic factors which is responsible for water scarcity. Most of our
cities are facing this problem due to over population. A large population means
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more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food.

2. Commercialisation of Agriculture :
The commercial crops need more water and other inputs. Assured means of
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irrigation like tube wells and wells are responsible for falling ground water levels.

3. Variation in seasonal and annual precipitation :

Precipitation is the main source of water in India but arrival and departure of
monsoon in India is uncertain. Even the distribution of rain fall is uneven.

4. Industrialisation and Urbanisation :

The ever increasing number of industries has made matters worse by exerting
pressure on existing fresh water resources. Industries apart from being heavy user
of water also requires power to run them.Most of our cities are over populated. Over
population over utilizes the water resources and also pollutes the existing resources.
5. Over utilization :
Due to over utilization the water table has lowered.

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 6. Pollution :
Domestic waste and industrial waste are the main factors responsible for pollution
of water.
The availability of water resources varies over space and time.
● Water scarcity is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal
access to water among different social groups.
● Water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas for
dry-season agriculture.
● In some areas, water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people.

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But, those areas still suffer from water scarcity due to bad quality of water.

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Need of the hour to conserve and manage the water resources.
1.To safe guard ourselves from health hazards.
2.To ensure food security.
3.Continuation of our livelihoods and productive activities.

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4.Prevent degradation of our natural ecosystem.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

The government of India has accorded highest priority to improve the quality of life
and enhance ease of living of people especially those living in rural areas by
announcing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
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The Goal of JJM is to enable every rural household get assured supply of potable
piped water at a service level of 55 litres per capita per day regularly on long-term
basis by ensuring functionality of the tap water connections.
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Multi-purpose River Projects and Integrated Water-Resource Management

In ancient times, we used to conserve water by constructing sophisticated hydraulic
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structures like dams built of stone rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments and
canals for irrigation. We have continued this tradition in modern India by building
dams in most of our river basins.
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Hydraulic Structures in Ancient India

A hydraulic structure is one that is submerged or partially submerged in any body of
water, which disrupts the natural flow of water.

• In the first century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad had sophisticated water
harvesting system channelling 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.

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 • In the 14th Century, the tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi was constructed by Iltutmish for
supplying water to Siri Fort area.

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 reservoir rather
than the structure.

Uses of Dams:
Dams are built:

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● To impound rivers and rainwater that can be used later to irrigate agricultural
fields.

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● For electricity generation.
● Water supply for domestic and industrial uses.
● Flood control.
● Recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.

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Side effects of Creating Dams
● Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow.
● Poorer the habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.
● Fragmented rivers make it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate.
● Dams created on the floodplains submerge the existing vegetation and soil
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leading to its decomposition over a period of time.
● Creating of large dams has been the cause of many new environmental
movements like the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’
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etc.
● Many times local people had to give up their land, livelihood and their control
over resources for the construction of the dam.
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Most of the objections to the projects arose due to their failure to achieve the
purposes for which they were built.
● Most of the dams were constructed to control floods but, these dams have
triggered floods.
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● Dams have also caused extensive soil erosion.

● Excessive use of water has resulted in earthquakes, caused water-borne
diseases and pests and pollution.

Multi purpose Project : A multipurpose project is that which fulfils a variety of

purposes at the same time.
Example : irrigation, generation of electricity etc.

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.

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 ● 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. Eg. 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 wildlife and natural ecosystem.
● Water Navigation: They provide for Inland water navigation through main

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river or canal. It is the cheapest means of transport for heavy goods.
● Fisheries: These provide ideal condition for the breeding of fish. Chosen

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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.

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Disadvantages of Multipurpose Project
1. High cost : The initial cost of building the dams is very high. It requires a lot
of capital and engineering
skills and modern machinery which is not available in India.
2. Adverse Impact on Environment: A vast variety of flora and fauna as well as
human settlements get submerged in the water of reservoir formed by the
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dam.
3. Adverse effect on the fertility of the soil: Due to construction of dams there
are no annual floods in the river. And because of this the soil of the
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downstream region does not get nutrient rich “silt”. This decreases the fertility
of the soil.
4. Adverse Impact on aquatic life: Due to construction of dam on the river, the
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fish in the downstream area do not get sufficient nutrient material.

5. Non-availability of water throughout the year : Most of the rivers in India
flow only for few months. So water is not sufficient to build a dam.
6. Disputes between different states : States have disputes over sharing of
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water, height of the dam and so on.

7. Displacement of local communities : The local people often have to give
up their land and livelihood and their meagre access and control over
resources for the greater food for the Nation.
8. Change in cropping pattern : They provide 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 salinization
of soil leading to ecological imbalance.
9. (i) 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.
(ii) Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate,
especially for spawning. The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains

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 also submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition
over a period of time.

Rain Water Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting: It is a technique of increasing the recharge of ground water
by capturing and
storing rain water by constructing structures such as percolating pits, check dams
etc.

Different Techniques to Conserve Water :

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● People of mountainous regions had built diversion channels like ‘guls’ and
‘kuls’ for agriculture.

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● Rooftop rain water harvesting was commonly practiced to store drinking
water. eg. Rajasthan.
● In the flood plain of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate
their fields.

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● In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed
storage structure that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the
‘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
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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
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harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are
legal provisions to punish the defaulters.
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Rain Water Harvesting through Tanks :

● In the semi arid and arid region of Rajasthan particularly in Phalodi, Bikaner
and Barmer most of the houses, have underground tanks for storing water.
● These tanks were part of well-developed roof top rain water harvesting
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system.
● Rain falling on the rooftops would travel down the pipe and was stored in
tankers.
● The first spell of rain was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs
and the pipes
● The rain water from the subsequent showers was then collected.

Importance of Rain Water Harvesting :

1. It is a reliable source of water when all other source of water dry up.
2. It is considered the pure form of natural water.
3. It can also be given to sick people.
4. It can be used to beat the summer heat if underground rooms adjoining the
tanks are built.

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 5. To meet the increasing demand of water.
6. To avoid flooding of roads.
7. To raise the ground water level.

Conservation of Water Resources :

1. Construction of multi-purpose projects and canals.
2. Solving river water disputes quickly.
3. Inter basin transfer of water.
4. Measures to raise underground water.
5. Rainwater harvesting and water shed development.

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6. Avoiding pollution of water bodies.
7. Preventing the wastage of water.

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Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is a Non Governmental
Organisation (NGO) that mobilised tribal people, farmers, environmentalists and
human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the

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Narmada river in Gujarat.
It originally focused on the environmental issues related to trees that would be
submerged under the dam water.
Recently it has re-focused the aim to enable poor citizens, especially the oustees
(displaced people) to get full rehabilitation facilities from the government.
Sardar Sarovar Dam has been built over the Narmada River in Gujarat.
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This is one of the largest water resource projects of India covering four
states—Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The Sardar Sarovar project would meet the requirement of water in drought-prone
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and desert areas of Gujarat (9,490 villages and 173 towns) and Rajasthan (124
villages).
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The Krishna-Godavari dispute is due to the objections raised by Karnataka and

Andhra Pradesh governments.
It is regarding the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra government
for a multipurpose project.
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This would reduce downstream flow in their states with adverse consequences for
agriculture and industry.

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