(10 Water Resources

or bedrock. Most of the water

Syllabus ultimately
Water Resources reaches the sea. An undergroundwater
stream that is saturated with water and
Sources (Surface water and groundwater). transmits water readiy is known as an
" Need for conservation and
conservation
practices (Rainwater harvesting aquifer. Groundwater constitutes 0.66per
and its cent of usable water on the earth.
importance).
Irrigation: Inportance and methods. Nature has endowed India with plentiful
water resources.These resources account for four
per cernt of the world's water resources. Besides
SOURCES OF WATER Surface water, i.e., from rivers, lakes, ponds and
The term water resource refers to any of the tanks and groundwater resources, India has a
entire range of natural waters that occur on the vast coastline with indented coasts in some states.
earth and are of potential use to living beings. Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal have vast surface
0f these resources the ones which are most water resources in the form of lagoons and lakes.
available for use are the waters of oceans, rivers Though water is brackish in these water bodies,
and lakes. Other available water resources it is utilised for fishing and irrigation of certain
comprise groundwater, deep sub-surface waters crops like paddy, coconut, etc.
and glaciers and permanent snowfields.
About 97per cent of the earth's water NEED TO CONSERVE WATER
supply is in the ocean which is unfit for human Water is a natural resource which satisfies
consumption and other uses due to high salt the basic human need. Due to
increase in
content. Of the remaining 3per cent, 2.3per population, irrigation and industrialisation, the
cent is locked in the polar ice caps. Thebalance demand for water has risen. This has led to a
0.7per cent is available as freshwater but decline in groundwater levels in various parts
0.66per cent, is groundwater and the rest of the country. According to a report by Central
0.03per cent is available to us as freshwater in Ground Water Board (CGWB), in recent years,
rivers, lakes and streams. Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh
(a) Surface Water: Water on land is the result and Uttarakhand have recorded a sharp fall
in the groundwater levels, ranging from 70 to
of precipitation or seepage from underground 80per cent. If this trend continues, there will be
which forms streams, lakes, rivers and ponds
a critical shortage of water of suitable quality
flowing on land and finally joining the sea. to meet the future needs. We need to conserve
(b) Groundwater: The water from precipitation, water for the following reasons:
that is from rain or snow, flows on the
surface. Some of the water evaporates and (i) The overexploitation of groundwater often
results in the lowering of water table.
Uhe rest sinks into the soil. The water which
Seeps through the cracks and crevices (ii) The loss of vegetation causes drought and
Under the surface of the land is known as reduction of rainfall and lowering of the
water table.
groundwater. It remains in the soil, subsoil
119
Water Resources
 ofsecondary
harvesting
forgetvalue
andplace
the
activitybe from harvesting
in
recharge
collection
be collecting
mechanisme it the
From by streamo
storing in in India.
water
the or Eastern
Plateau, various
includes welS, X
Geography
Total
countrystoring wells storage
secondary had
perfected
the rivers of onearable other
geographical surface
management
Dighis whicn
SOurces
groundwater can collectedrunoff names
Khatri conservation
ofrain
the of
harvested
India courtyards.
artificial CentralKorambuinMANAGEMENT recharge
and flooded
time WATERSHED both
that
to swollen or Deccan pOint consist the
suchtheWater at is used Many theby and
water different
called
Baolis theIt as by
rainwater conserving
rainwater they season or
rainwater on
comprising groundwater
well
resources.
harvesting
rainwater of in from mechanisms in a
to common efficient
both pits,
on of
mostrainwater. ancestorsregionrooftops lands,
their it from were
Johads
the
Himalayas, Ghats, for may
Watershed'refers management,
entirely the can Ladakh. as
management. stored monsoon water by percolation
etc.
unitIt of run-off
all and understanding
of bodies. known They in
lands.
non-arable
and
use Waterof or eachharvested
water in communityharvested
water
a water. the dugwells,
use been
the
harvested
plains,
KereWestern to ideal villages, conservation
groundwater
aredepend
water, optimum
the
Our built and in drains to
of
in from Western Zing
areas. of recharge
falls. direct hastimes.andfollowed tanksrainwater thewater storing
capturing and
of
groundwater. was or
Gangetic an refers
Watershed like
prevention
soilseveral
water People in
Bhandaras borewells,
We of value
the storedWater structures water open They during receptacle and
Surangam term it
that methods
Sources making direct
itwhere for in They different makes
water. means ancient in The in hand,
ofart it Kuhl Ghats Thearea both andand and
were" " the or
of "
of water groundwater,
adequate andwater
their policies
need technologies,
its rainwater water. increasing
water andwater evaporation engineering
watershed.
andwater for drains. and
harvesting requirement
and
according
cent groundwater.
freshwater for
CONSERVATION
PRACTICES capturing
at groundwater, conservation demand storage
in
90per results
and We
conserve measures development,
of sub-surface limited Harvesting lakes
without
proper pollution aimed chokes Reducing
groundwater
pollution.
polluted resources.by of roads.
saving process throughand a rainwater water
Rivers,
drought.
than the done by as increasing groundwater water
population of to make activities studiesthesuch which erosion.
like used availabilityeffective the
need groundwater of quality
of of
domestic
more water the in and at
are be HARVESTING
RAINWATER
preventing
watershed locally losseshydrological
of Rainwater flooding
table. cycle.
source
the
total
freshwater. resources
be to
water can aimed area
utilisation of run-off and
we isharvesting surfaceand
includes seepage,
and
utilises etc,hardly steps adopting ever soil
in demand,adopt an objectives thewater summer hydrological
our This rainwaterof interventions,
of the Supplementing
Improving primary
increase lakes declining of prevention
harvesting endowment thethe thetheAugmenting the
following:
are
water cantreatment.
Irrigationscarcity. quick and
encouraging
andCOnservation. of
manage recharge
It Reducing Reducing
rivers, 1ncreasing
harvesting, Rainwater
recycling reservoirs.
other efficient
Objectives Meeting Avoiding
the
during
water laws main water.
the
The Our take storing raise
to all
the is the
(iii) (iv) (v) Due and and (i) (ii) (üü) Rain
to The
to 120
 RCC, masonry or plastic water tanks.
Rainwater
4. Recharge facility: Alternative to storing,
rainwater can be used to recharge groundwater
Catchment
aquifers.This can be done through any suitable
Water structures like dugwells, borewells, recharge
pipe
(conduit)
Waler available
for use
trenches and recharge pits.
STORING WATER FOR DIRECT UsE
Hand pump An underground RCC (Reinforced cement
concrete) or masonry tank can be used for storage
of the rainwater. The tank can be installed
inside the basement of a building or outside
the building. Prefabricated tanks such as PVC
can be installed above the ground. Each tank
Water table must have an overflow system for situations
when excess water enters the tank. The overfiow
Modern Rainwater Harvesting can be connected to the drainage system.
NEED OF WATER HARVESTING Generally, runoff from only paved surfaces
le India, we have acute shortage of water is used for storing, since it is relatively free of
during the year. This 1s because we have not bacteriological contamination. Rooftop rainwater
cared to conserve water or rationalised its use.
harvesting is the process of water harvesting
The annual rainfall in India is 1,170mm (46 RECHARGING GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS
inches). This is higher compared to the world
average of 800mm (32 inches). Ironically, even Various kinds of recharge structures are
Cherrapunji, which receives about 11,000mm of possible which.can ensure that rainwater
percolates in the ground instead of draining
rainfall annually, suffers from acute shortage of
drinking water. This is because rainfall in India away from the surface. Some of these are:
occurs in short spells of high intensity. Due 1. Borewells and Dugwells are used to
to such intensities coupled with short duration raise the underground water table by collecting
of heavy rain, most of the rain falling on the rainwater on the rooftop of the building which
surface tends to flow away rapidly, leaving is then diverted by drainpipes to a filtration
very little for the recharge of groundwater. This tank. From there it flows into the borewell
makes most parts of India experience lack of or dugwell.
water even for domestic uses. 2.Recharge Pit excavated into the ground,
WATER HARVESTING MECHANISM lined with a brick or stone wall with openings
at regular intervals.
The elements of water harvesting are given below:
3. Percolation Pits (Soakaway) is a bored
1. Catchments: The catchment of a water hole of up to 30cm diameter drilled in the
narvesting is the surface which receives rainfall
ground to a depth of 3 to 10m.
uiectly. It can be a paved area like a terrace or
or an unpaved
area like 4. Recharge Trenches are excavated on
cOurtyard of a building
a lawn or an open ground. Temporary structures the ground and refilled with porous media
catchments. like pebbles, boulder or brickbats to harvest
e Sloping sheds can also act as
the surface runoff.
pipelines or
2. Conduits: Conduits are thecatchment
the or 5. Permeable Surfaces like a patch of
drains that carry
rainwater from
rooftop to the harvesting system. Conduits may grass is used to retain a large proportion of
be of material like Polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), the rainwater falling on it, yielding only 10
any Galvanised Iron (GI), or
materials 15per cent as runoff.
asbestos
that
or
are commonly available. 6. Porous tiles on pavements and
3. Rainwater can be stored footpaths.
in any Storage
facility: containers like
commonly used storage
121
Water Resources
 rainfall
wide
rainfall the
country. The
rainfall
uncertain
alsSo
is and
the
at its the
rainy
season
and the
the rainfall
Most
to Distribution
India, June
from
receive
the eastern
Western
and andRajasthan
region
250cmbetween zones. watergraintime seasons-kharif
ie inadequacygrowth. whichare Where kharni
moisture are
exclusively irigatioX
Geography-
Total
reasons: and ofheonly
means
withering Ghats Haryanathere country population
andby the
arrival
times the ofto
September
Inofuneven.
of
Rainfall: the
However, crops developed, or year.
cent northern crops require rains. of
and irrigation.
than Kutch arid crops.
The markedearly but withdrawal crops. receive their during available. two of
where
soilharvest
place th the help
single
following intensity. 80per This Different the
in Rainfall: of arTives is
quite more Theand low for
kharif
monsoon the raise
growing
raise in notmaturing. rainfed the
development
in parts only throughout the
lie is water.
Peninsula
Punjab by
in not
water cropping on area crops
irregular
is is receive rainfall. rainfall
whereas
water
do formed. area
are
the is a
to without
mons0onand Scarcity
irrigation
tO monsoon. met Requirements: The grown
theirrigationrapidly in
the differernt
Notrainfall crops more as after farmners
of rainwater of of thefacilities
largest summer crops
of Uncertainty late. rhythm from
country India of of of
be
scarcity are
quantities three
zaid. grown
are over irrigated
crops. done
becausehighly ear
are
heads
require on left
agricultural normal water Unevendistribution parts
eastern amount to the
Further,
comes regular South-west200cmhalf
rainfall the
in
fluctuations Hence, ofwestern has they hasand
thedependent
are crops Or of
irrigation theSuccessive
be
of is or
is Sometimescontinuity, supplement
to
the
annual Gujarat, of
constant
rainfall
Occupy
crops India
when crops which
Supply
Crops, forcedcannot
was India theand
Cropdifferent
Most rabi Kabi Zaid
is, it not leading of annual the
crops. 2. parts
This1. that the
north
100
and Here 3. (i) (ii)
for in is of a of
To mouth
diverted the device
connects
is filter during
settie gradualy
disturbed.water.
available
contamination
level. of From
means agricultural
water
about2per drinking
is country
About moisture
production.
of to dot
times.
India, in
years.
them constructed
the
Grand theof
built irrigation
began prerequisites
container. water watering rainfall use imperative tanks development
testify
entering agriculture, that during
sand impurities domestic etc. development,
Presently In ancientof
canals and
thefirst-flush the artificial water. judicious thousand the
is stored time organisms are canals, for farmers
the
on crops.canals some big
in
roof at it a not disinfecting river time, independence
storage before purposes,
provided over disinfection of
Biological
sustained cent of in cropdepends from twoNaduand
irrigation increase
the
from
the is the IRRIGATION
process resource. source area is raise andand Cauverito the
a because
water through
tubewells, for 6per sustain irrigation. olda theTamil
AD of
on a improves at For and it practised time one
conduit
If (harmful) all-round
used sown lakes than in
thedebrisFurther,
situation, are centuries the
falling container. by o0ut purposes. farming to
important centuries
irrigation as
are drinking the of the of and practices theThefrom attained
to removed
storage. carried
methods
simple
Many plants is
precious net to means more
artificial of
examples
India.
development,
agriculture
in regarded
tank to view
tankS, water industries rainfall for centuryAD.
andfilters the
drain-pipes
rainwater if
the
been districtacross
rulers
drain-pipe. qualitytank pathogenic refers and dry water 9th
the of domestic thisartificial arefor
further agricultural most of India
mesh in storage
leaves for to be wells, mostofcent
production of on in conservationhasof country
providedisprovided.in
the due
can Irngation point cent Under
available number
served
notable
andbuilt
Chingleput importance was
various
used Water for the depends
Success irrigation
Afterplanned
potential
which
through system,
Drevent storage
in outbe
Even which from the92per
the cent 55per
still
and utilise second
8th Anicut
the the down
be die can is thehaveThe 122)
A in by
in of is to to
(ii) High yielding varieties requiring higher
quantity of chemical fertilizers need more moisture holding capacity and therefore, require
moisture which could be
supplied only less irrigation. On the other hand, the sandy
through irrigation. loams have less moisture retentive capacity and
(iv) Commercial crops like sugarcane need need frequent watering hence drip irrigation
is suitable in dry regions. Similarly, the level
bigher quantity of water as they require and lowland areas require less water than the
freguent watering which could be managed sloping and highland areas.
through efficient irrigation system.
5. To Utilise River Water Effectively:
4. Nature of the Soil: The water requirement Many rivers in India are not perennial and
different crops depends on the nature of the
ofo
carry insignificant flows during the rabi season.
soil. For example, clayey soils have higher There is also a wide disparity in the water

India:Rivers
Shyok
Jhelum

Chenab
ndus
Ravi Satluj
Satluy
Govtnd
Sagar
Indus

Sambhar
Salt Lake c h a r b a .
Brahmaputrá
LUnL
SERanaanrBetwa
Sind
Ghagra.
GandhiDSagar Ganga
Govind Ballabh
Ganga
Sagar Pant Ségàr Tropic of Cancer

Narmada
N D Darnodar
Tapti
MahanadiSChika Lake
Godavari Penganga,
BAY
OF
Nizam BENGAL
Sagar
ARABIAN
SEA
Krishna Nagatuna
^agar ANDAMAN
Penheru.
Khistnakaja, (INDIA) AND

LAKSHADWE P LAKSHADWE P SEA

Sagar mana NIC0BAR

Pai CaVauigveairi.
Scale 1:20,000,000 ANDAMAN
(INDIA) Km 100 100 200 300 400 500 Km
R SEA

OCEAN
ISLANDS
INDIAN
Rivers in India

123
Water Resources
 a circular pattern. Unlined wells are
different natural phenomena and are formed by
not protected by lining of their walls. normally
Well irrigation is a cheap, simple axs
dependable source ofirrigation.
i .It is
practisedin
areas where plenty of groundwater is
and the depth of the water table availablnote
does
exceed 15m.
Area: Wellirrigation is confined mainly to +
alluvial plains where owing to the soft nature
the soil, wells can be easily dug and the yield
crops from the land after irrigation is
Persian Whecl
considerabltoy
high. Wells are dug in the middle of the area
be irrigated and at a place which is
iow frOm vear to vear. The rivers of central at a high level. The presence of perennial relatively
and s0uthern India have water for the four
ensures the water table is recharged. rivers
months of monsoon rains and remain largely dry The areas where well irrigation is practised
during the eight months of the year. Therefore, include Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Haryana
to effectively utilise the water of these rivers Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra
12eans of irrigation have to be used. Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
6. To Maximise Production: To obtain and Tamil Nadu.
maximum production, irrigation is a must. Thewater from the wells is lifted for irrigation
According to agricultural scientists, the in anumber of ways:
production of irrigated crops is more than the (i) Persian wheel method: It is used mainly in
unirrigated crops in the same area.
Punjab, Haryana and Western Rajasthan.
MEANS OF IRRIGATION It is a partly submerged vertical wheel with
buckets attached to the rim. As the wheel
Based on the availability of surface water (rivers is turned by draught animals rotating a
and streams) and groundwater, relief, soils and geared horizontal wheel, the buckets are
climatic conditions, different means of irrigation filled and emptied into a trough above,
are utilised in India. For example, in the which carries the water to crop-sown fields.
crystalline soil areas of Deccan Plateau, tanks
form the major source of irrigation, whereas the (ii) Lever method: It is used in Bihar and
alluvial tracts of the Gangetic and Coastal plains Andhra Pradesh. It is an economical
are best suited for canals and well irrigation.
The conventional means of irrigation include
wells, tanks, and inundation canals. Irrigation is
usually done manually, where a farmer himself
pulls out water from wells, tanks and canals
or uses animals to draw water. The modern
means of irrigation include tubewells, perennial
canals, drip irrigation, etc.
WELLS
A well is a small hole dug in the surface of
the earth to obtain water from the water table
for irrigation and other purposes. Wells are
usually of two types: Lined wells and Unlined
wells. Lined wells are man-made; they are
artificially constructed by digging into the
ground and supporting the walls with bricks in
Well

124 Total GeographyX

 and efficient method of lifting water from
shallow wells to a height of 3.5 to 4.5m.
The lift consists of a strong log laid across
a fulcrum, a bucket attached to the long
arm by means of a bamb00 or a rope and a
heavy weight attached to the other side of
the log. Whenthe bucket is full one person
gently releases the rope and the bucket
Comes up as the stone goes down. The
bucket is emptied into the field channel
and again lowered into the well
plane method: This method
(i)Inclined
is also known as mhote. In this type, a pair of
Inclined Plane Method
hullocks move down from theslope (inclined
plane), specially constructed from the wall (ii) It is difficult to dig wells or bore tubewells
of the well, a bucket or a leather bag which in the hilly regions of the north and stony
is discharged into the connecting channel areas of the Peninsula.
pulling from behind. The rope goes through (iii) The traditional wells dry up due to the
pulley in this prOcess. After discharging the over-withdrawal of the groundwater and
water, the bullocks walk up the slope until lowering of the water table.
they reach the top by which time the bucket (iv) Availability of electricity and diesel to
reaches the surface of water and gets fAlled. operate tubewells causes many problems
The process is repeated again and again to and is costly for farmers.
irrigate the fields.
Advantages of Well Irrigation
TUBEWELLS
A tubewell is a deeper well at a depth of 20-30m
() Wells can be dug at a very low cost which is from which water is lifted up with the help of
well within the means of poor farmers. power driven pumps. It is also known as lift
(ü) Oxen which are kept for ploughing the land method'.
can be utilised for drawing water from the The ideal conditions for the drilling of
wells at no extra cost to the farmers. tubewells are:
(ii) By the use of pumnps and tubewells, water " availability of plentiful water at great
can be lifted even from great depths. depths,
" level land and soft soil for the tubewells to
Disadvantages of Well Irrigation be set up,
(i) Wells depend on underground water
resources wh0se distribution varies from " large fertile area in its surrounding area to
be irrigated; and
region to region. availability of regular cheap electricity to
run the tubewells.
Tubewells are used in the northern plains
in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
and Gujarat.
Advantages of Tubewell Irrigation
(i) It is an independent source of irrigation.
(ii) It brings up clean water.
(iii) It can irrigate large area of agricultural land.
(iv) It is easier to bring up large amount of
water in a short time period.
Tubewell

Water Resources 125

 summerto
rainfall
remaine levelwaterand
irrigation perennial the
makewaterlogged. to centimetres
water waterthe mix unproductive. whicnrunsstored
covers stones the
tochannels
Bikaner canal
cane canal,canal, soil -Geography
Total
Ganga canal, canal.
problem. ground the with
ground,
surface,
drainage
even water
impound
canal. and canal.
project
Malprabha
enjoy
the of rainwater,
normal or
Bhakra summer Irrigation capacity
India canal.Upper canal.
Yamuna
Western
Bhakra
Pravara canal, Alyar Project Vishweshwaryain Canal
canal canal, the
banks, soil where
completely few and earth
of
Canals Ganga the
Doab Naduneeded this the surface
the
reach the a
in Kosi rainfall. the it the proper houses
canal, canal, Gandhicanal,Bhavani canal. while wherehigh swamps. below make theSo of narrow
Canals Lower canal,
Tapi canal.
Warna at of irrigation,
to decreases.
of fodder. bund
Bari canal, Tamil is to Canal flow come waterlogging, sheet
Sharda Gurgaon Gandak irrigation
season of solution raised saturation
soil feet excess the
of standing
Crops, to
Sirhind Mettur places and small
Important Upper canal, canal.
Indira Lower
Son lack
of canals
to
cultivable a absence and stream
through
of fewsalts
winterthe between risecanal soil absorb
Disadvantages in with
water cultivated
fields.
parts grains a
Pradesh MaharashtraNadu Thus,a table
may Complete a rainfall to a
Rajasthan
Tamil up providessome give the land
KarnatakaMajorduringmake unlined theis alkalineto the refers led
across
States
Haryana dry. once may table with Due food
Punjab At
and
In thein TANKS then
Uttar Bihar of Tank
built
(iv) (i) (ii) (ii)
is
constructing Kashmir, andtheRevolution.
as It
itirrigation lead continuoussystems
kilometres. at operational
arewithout
Such these taken
of onlyTherefore, of thethe UttarPradesh, to Bihar, State,
solely
is have
Bengal. is the havewhich agricultural
table.
required.
not rivers those flow category. water
throughout areas of
can brackish.
Irrigation canalsdam. of water are of Plains from canals Punjab
the Most in practice in ofaresult 'granary
water water
canal types:rivers bedsthan
canals Andhra
andsupplyWest
area some
of out Green
use. by regulate
requires lakh remain of flood. areas.
this and Northern
Irrigation Rajasthan,good enabled
groundwater. largesttwoThese or water the supply
the higher
of permanent
off
when
is
tubewell
Tubewell one barrage rivers water
to
Jammu
alsoirrigated
irrigated
Nadu in taken yielding thethe
water These
in limited
means of from excess
and
As
large is Pradesh,
in
irrigation Canals. deficiency as
be
b0on
hascalled
than Canals: perennial
to belong Canals of
it supply world's
electricity.
of are season.
level are draw
Tamil The Canal canals nucleus
the as directly floods get
any have
Canals:dams irrigate Haryana,
the like are
switchedof of rivers thecanals.
perennial
can
be
if expensive the
morecanals the a they can India Madhya Tripura. Mizoram,
least of rivers. irrigation
be
to of use Constructing
rainyat canals of Karnataka,
by areas patches
up Disadvantages
depletion
useless Inundation theor They system
of rainfall to and
of over out use of are rivers, the Perennial and part to
drilled Excessive one irrigation timne
during fromnbarrages in on up perennial
Advantages Haryana
harvests.
stretchingtakenCanals
canalswhenthese water.canals Rajasthan,
Canal and sizeable dependent aridprovedsandy Canal
country'
a has the year Pradesh, elaborateThemade
is is is CANALS the out
to It It AssamOdisha, In
It is India (ii)
(v) (i) (ii) (iii) The(i) (i) (ii) (iüi)
a 126
 Tank irrigation is in
practice in Peninsular
Indiaincluding Maharashtraand Gujarat. Tanks
constitute a special feature of irrigation
in the
of the
Deccan because following reasons:
(i) The rivers of the Deccan are not snow-fed
mainly dependent on the
and are rainwater:
(i)Thhere are màny streams which become
torrential during the rainy season but
the rain Ceases. dry
up when
The hard rocks in the area do not absorb
(i) water, SO wells also cannot be made there.
But the tanks can be easily made by
of making dams in hollow spaces in means
which
rainwater is stored in large quantities for Irrigation Tank
distributing regula supply of water through
the channels to the arable lands in the dry are difficult to construct, so only tank
seasons.
irrigation is feasible.
(iv) The terrain of1the Deccan Plateau is uneven (ii) Tank irrigation is highly significant in
storing the abundant rainwater that would
with many natural depressions where tanks otherwise flow out and go waste.
can be easily built.
Tank irrigation has reached its highest Disadvantages of Tank Irrigation
nerfection in the south, specially in Andhra (i) Tanks get silted up soon and regular
Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. In Tamil desilting is required to make themn suitable
Nadu, it is significant in the districts of Chingleput, for irrigation.
North Arcot and South Arcot; in Nellore in Andhra (ii) When the monsoons fail these tanks go dry
Pradesh and in Warangal in Telangana. States and therefore, are not dependable source of
of West Bengal and Rajasthan too have some irrigation.
irrigation tanks, particularly in their southern (iii) Most of the tanks are non-perennial and
and south-eastern regions respectively. Some become dry during the winter and summer
irigation tanks do exist in Bundelkhand area seasons when water is urgently required
in Uttar Pradesh and South Bihar. for rabi and zaid crops.
(iv) Due to large area coverage and its shallow
Advantages of Tank Irrigation depth, huge quantity of stored water either
) In the uneven rocky plateau of Peninsular evaporates or sinks underground without
India, where rainfall is highly seasonal, being used in the irrigation.
tank irrigation is useful. (v) Tanks occupy a large fertile area which
(11) In the large stretches of the Indian plateau, otherwise could have been utilised for
due to hard rocky terrain, wells and canals growing crops.
(vi) The lifting of water from the tanks and
bringing it to the fields is a strenuous and
costly task.
But even then tanks are effective means of
collecting rainwater and their use should be
popularised for irrigation, aquaculture, drinking
water and water sports.

DRAWBACKS OF CONVENTIONAL METHODS

OF IRRIGATION
The conventional irrigation systems suffer from
a number of constraints leading to improper
Canal
127
Water Resources
distributed
areasirrigation
systems,
released and excessandto consists
it water irrigate and
irrigation
rowsand result the programmeton directly
of on
the as evaporation. water. -X
Geography
Total
isin to
aone as
wot lost
irrigation
used method referred irrigation.
Irrigation
irrigation
aneeded
is advanced
over-watering between
lines allows seepage.
on of However,
Theutilisesfield.
isexpensive water to a sprayed Irrigation less
water
is amount Usually
system As
useful source due root thisanozzleoften
reguire
is crops.irrigation
irrigation by by of area.
wateravailable. field. but most placed reduced
causedthe
spray waterSprinkler
method Irrigation
Spray
the this their is
water
spray the the
machinery;
irrigation. In
crop. water method.water
is 'overhead
irrigation' smallwhich
the Sprinkler
irrigation the reducing to
side
vegetables,
arealong fitted
with It
Irrigation:
to drastically
Drip
Irrigation:
In a
in are dueis an each plants. of of expensive
a crops
that easily to evaporationIt that on which
other
guns occçr customise lossloss of for
that Irrigation:
of buried conserved.
guarantee set complex pipes directly to helpful
Furrow efficiently, and
diseases,method a
pipe
beneficial through
requiredof no no Disadvantagesfor
is is thesprayspray can is Sprinkler Advantages used
water hose perforated
fruits is is an
Sprayon or evaporation ThereThere
to water to irrigation is is is
to evenly. andthroughrequires throughmoisture,
Dripefficient
irrigate
crops is usedthe
where long grower It It It
order more plant water most
(i)) (ii) (i) (ii) (iii)
side give
of of is to
large by andto theThis always
changes to
prolonged and
land effectiveand p00r excessive
accumulation
longer of hascultivation.highly flood
are
utilisation dugevenly
feld field.in
utilised.
following: 10
situations, subjected reasonssalinity dimensions,
a time to changing. yields. of channelsarid and ones of thechannelswhole
irrigation about are
cyclic availability
crops.
areas cent decreases no
of on of
type
properly one instead
theare irrigationup soilfor
main thewhich
important poured the
the for arepoor
causing 10-15per build narrow
to stress
at thelow in to of IRRIGATION
METHODS
MoDERN
to a throughout
of subjected
are system up
irrigation on crops
in
preparing India the up unsuitable ledmethods is equal Furrow
Irrigation
not drymoisturein which land due gradual water crops,
These keepsin
yields resulting are build have It through
water of cultivation
Excessive the
is to Thus,
situated
water about cultivation.
area
of of Irrigation: have
conventional etc. regions management
water
usually fields for areas and soils irrigation the of water
Progressive constraints
of
water. andheavy thereforepoor waterlogging.distributions, whichrows must
The exCesswaterlogging
fields waterlogging below. flow
Some
discussed
the utilised the the
of fields semi-arid
Extensive
of areflooding
quantity davs. in
providing forsalts.
in to thedistributing
furrows
leaving results the made modern Furrow
the Crops
utilisation crops used water salts. directed
thesescientific.irrigation
Theget between
15 In is of
In of
(iii) (iv) (V) All of The
(i) (i) is 128
 INDIA: A LAND OF RIVERSYET WATERSOCARCE
India is known to be land of rivers with 12 major rivers
tO about 253mha of catchment area and 46 medium rivers cates
24.6mha catchment
of with
are perennial, Apart from these rivers and area.
canals.Many of these
other inlandrivers withresources
water their tributaries
include
reservoirs.
numerous tanks and ponds, oxbow lakes,
constitutes around 17 per cent of the world's derelict water and brackish water. India
world'sfreshwater resources. population but has only four per cent of the
,mdia however, extracts most ground
water in the world. more than China and the
combined together. The Composite Water USA
a note of alarm about water
crisis in Management Index given by
India Saying more than 600 millionNITI Aayog has sounded
acute water shortage. Added to this, it has people are facing
theavailable supply by 2030. projected the country's water demand to be twice
Deonle in various places across India are
drink. Fetching water in lndia has been struggling hard and risking their lives to get water
e mural areas. Since perceived as a woman's job for centuries,
especially
groundwater resources
aliance and unsustainable Consumption, wells, ponds are under increasing pressure due to Over
hanced the water Crisis and placed an even and tanks are drying up. This has
greater burden of procuring water on women.
Globally the use of water has grown at more than twice the
has led many cities rate of population increase. This
from Rome to Cape Town,
arisis has been ranked in the top five of the World Chennai Limato to ration water. Water
with very rare exceptions, no one dies of literal Economic Forum's Global Risks by Impact.
from lack of clean drinking water or conflicts overthirst. But mnore and more people are dying
access to water. Think about the ways and
means to come out of this situation...

EXERCISES
I. Choose the correct option:
1. What is an aquifer?
(a) An underground well that readily gives out water on digging the land.
(b) An underground pond that was once a source of water and is now buried under rocks.
() An underground stream saturated with water that is transmitted readily on to the surface.
(d) None of the above.
2. Which of the following does not conserve water?
(a) Rainwater harvesting (5) Using only bottled drinking water
(c) Water recycling (d) Drip irrigation
3. Which of the following is a cause for the decline in groundwater levels?
(a) Irregular and erratic rainfall (b) Urbanisation
(c) Loss of vegetative cover ( All of the above.
4. Sprinkler irrigation is also known as
(a) Seepage irrigation (b) Overhead irrigation
(c) Protected irrigation ( Nozzle irrigation
5. Tanks form the main source of irrigation in
(a) ( the Deccan Plateau
Punjab and Haryana (d) All of the above.
(c) MadhyaPradesh and Gujarat
129
Water Resources
 use
ensure
irrigation. Geography
Total
you India?
to
7.house India.
would
can in
canals? scarcity Peninsular canal
he irrigation
all
'groundwater'. irrigation?
under
India.
inpractised
which on irrigation.
dependent this
driveway of in irrigation. is
methods method caused canals.
irrigation
methods
of irrigation. areaevaporation.
plains. practised.
and tubewell
canals
Inundation
(d) his (b)above.
canals
Inundation
solely
Pradesh
Arunachal
(d) irrigation
Sprinkler
(d) resource'? perennial irrigated
Which
irrigation
Spray
(b) has rate. irrigation.
following
the following:
water' following:
of conventional
methods
of
wellfollowing:
alluvial
in them. systems
harvesting What through
tiles the means conventional is of
irrigation. Borewell
(iv) (iii) category? is colony. India.
irrigation.
fast
of net
Porous (ii), of of India Mizoram 'surface
'water harvesting? scarcity'? a
to the
disadvantages
disadvantage
irrigation
Wells
(b) None None the the other
converted
at
of the the
Of (), your in to water
of methods
depleting of
of Mathura, which state of
termbetween crisis of
irrigation? of mainly
means (ii) (b) (d) (d) (b) in eachof each over or each one-third well
means 'water of
to irrigated park the waterrainwater being traditional
losswhereone
questions: for rainwater for preferred conventionalfor confined
harvesting belong two
water. are
conventional in public by difference
differentfor term termreason of and
reason reason reduces
nearly
understand are reserves drawbacks
and states
India least conserving
responsible advantage
one two
any
Mention by isthe the canals by
following maintain following geographical meant is
advantages
geographical
a
Rahul
is rainwater in
constructing canals
Navigation
(c) irrigation
Furrow
(a) of adopt by by geographical
irrigation
meant
two Nadu,
irrigation
irrigation two
(a)
Furrow
irrigation rainwater
harvesting, (a)
canals
Perennial points Groundwater
a
not (iv) canals irrigation
Drip
(c) meant
meant Inundation any two any
you to for is is Tamil one
(üi). is
is A Rooftop(iv) the
(i)
garden the to the two Need What Tank WhatNameanytwo DripName
(i). (),. (a) (c)
of Assam
Tripura
have
do
a
Need Man is is Well Give
(c)
Tanks Answer
WhatGive Give (i) WhatWhata a In
(1). 0). of Which (ii) (iii) (i) (ii) Give (i) (ii) (iii) (i) (i) StateGive Give(i) (ii) (iüi) (i) (ii)
Most You
(ii)(a) (c) (a) (b) (c) (d) (a) (b) (c) (d) (a) (b) (c) (d)
9. 10. II. Q.1 Q.2 130)
6. 8. Q.3
Q4 fa) Name the two types of canals. Name two states where perennial canals ar
widely used.
How are the fields irrigated using the
geographical reason for Persian wheel method?
(c) Give a each of the
() Canals make the soil infertile. following:
Tubewell irrigation is
(ii)
R
quite expensive.
Excessive accumulation of salts make the soils unsuitable
Name two states in which for cultivation.
E State why tubewells are extensively used.
tubewell irrigation is important in
Punjab.
What is meant by rainwater
Q.5 (a)
(b) State any twO
methods of harvesting?
rainwater harvesting.
(c) GGive a geographical reason for each of the
) Many farmers in India still use
wells.
following:
(i) There is very little recharge of
(iii) The traditional wells dry up, groundwater.
iA () What is watershed management?
(ii) How is it beneficial for farmers in
the long run?
0.6 (a) What is 'drip irrigation'? How is it useful?
(b) Explain briefly the need to conserve water.
(c) Give a geographical reason for each of the
(i) Modern means of irrigation are
following:
(ii) Sprinkler irrigation helps in
gainingpopularity.
conserving water.
(ii) Spray irrigation is quite expensive.
(d) What is meant by furrow irrigation? What is
its advantage?
II. Practical Work
1 With the help of a suitable sketch show the various methods of
rainwater harvesting.
2. Enlist the ways in which water can be reused and recycled in various activities.
3 Make a Power Point Presentation showing the various methods used for rainwater
from ancient times to the present.
harvesting

IV. Thinking Skills

Q.1 Nature has endowed India with plentiful water resources. Despite this, acute shortage
of water is noticed in some states. What could be the reasons for this shortage?
Q.2 In your city, critical shortage of water has been reported due to a sharp fall in the
groundwater level. What steps you will take to check this scarcity of water?
Q.3 A number of water saving technologies have been developed in recent decades. Which
one wOuld you to prefer to use in your area and why?
Q.4 If you are given a choice between using traditional or modern methods of irrigation.
which method you would prefer to use in your area and why?

131
Water Resources