GEOGRAPHY 117

3 Water resources

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1 UNDERSTANDING EARTH’S WATER RESOURCES

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Earth’s surface is primarily covered by water, with approximately three-fourths of the planet’s surface covered by it However, only a small
fraction of this vast water resource is freshwater that can be utilized by humans for various purposes.

EARTH’S WATER
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OCEANS
97% WATER SUPPLY
SUMMED UP
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Ice Caps and Glaciers

FRESHWATEWR 3%
70%
Groundwater
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29%
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EASILY ACCESSIBLE
1% Soil Moisture
FRESHWATER

38%
LAKES
52%

Water Vapor 1%

Rivers 1% Water in Living things 1%

1.1 Sources of Freshwater:

The main sources of freshwater are surface runoff and groundwater, both of which are part of the Earth’s hydrological cycle. Water’s presence
in the hydrological cycle means that it is a resource that can be naturally replenished overtime.
Hydrological Cycle: The hydrological cycle is a continuous natural process where water evaporates from various water bodies (like
oceans, lakes, and rivers), forms clouds, falls as precipitation, and flows back into these water bodies. This cycle ensures that water is
constantly renewed and recharged, making it a renewable resource.
118 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

The Hydrologic cycle (Water Cycle)

Condensation

Transpiration Precipitation Evaporation

Evaporation

Snowmealt

Lake Ocean

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Percolation Groundwater
Flow

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2 WATER SCARCITY CONCERNS AND CONSERVATION

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Despite the vast amount of water on Earth and its renewability, many regions and countries worldwide face water scarcity issues.

2.1 Main causes of water scarcity:

• Water scarcity in most cases is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access to water among different social
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• Water scarcity may be an outcome of a large and growing population and consequent greater demands for water and unequal
access to it.
• To facilitate higher food-grain production, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season
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agriculture.
• Intensive industrialization and urbanization exerted pressure on existing freshwater resources.
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• Even if water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people, much of it is maybe polluted by domestic and industrial
wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers used in agriculture, thus causing water scarcity.
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Base Line Water Stress

(Withdrawals / Available Supply)
High (> 40%)
Low (< 40%)
Arid & Low water Use
 GEOGRAPHY 119

Water Scarcity Situation in states of India

JAMMU &
KASHMIR

HIMANCHAL PRADESH
PUNJAB
UTTARNCHAL
HARYANA

ARUNACHAL PRADESH
SIKKIM

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UTTAR PRADESH
RAJSTHAN
BIHAR ASSAM NAGALAND
MEGHALAYA
MANIPUR
WEST BENGAL

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MADHYA PRADESH TRIPURA
MIZORAM
GUJRAT

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CHATTISGARH
DAMAN & DIU ORRISA

MAHARASHTRA

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KARANATAKA
ANDHRA PRADESH

ANDAMAA & NICOBAR

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PUDUCHERRY
Legend:
TAMIL NADU Low to moderate
LAKSHADWEEP
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Moderate
KERALA
Moderate to high
Hight
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2.2 Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

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The Goal of JJM is to enable every rural household to get an assured supply of potable piped water at a service level of 55 liters per capita

per day regularly on a long-term basis by ensuring the functionality of the tap water connections.

Need for Water Conservation

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1. Sustainable Resource Management: Conserving water ensures its availability for future generations and sustains ecosystems.
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2. Mitigating Water Scarcity: Many regions face water scarcity, and conservation helps balance supply and demand.

3. Preserving Aquatic Ecosystems: Conserved water supports healthy habitats for aquatic plants and animals.

4. Reducing Energy Consumption: Water treatment and distribution consume energy, and conserving water lowers energy

demands.

5. Agricultural Efficiency: Efficient irrigation practices save water and optimize agricultural productivity.\

6. Economic Benefits: Water conservation lowers costs for individuals, businesses, and governments.

7. Addressing Climate Change: Reduced water wastage contributes to climate change mitigation.

8. Minimizing Water Pollution: Conservation reduces the need for pollutant removal from water sources.
120 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

3 MULTI-PURPOSE RIVER PROJECTS AND INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

INDUS
JHELAM
CHENAB
RAVI
BEAS
SATLUJ

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YAMMUNA GHAGHRA
KOSI
GANGA
GOMATI GANDAK BRAHMAPUTRA
CHAMBAL
BETWA
SON DAMODAR

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NARMADA
MAHANADI
TAPTI

BAY
OF

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GODAVARI BENGAL
ARABIAN
SEA

KRISHNA

TUNGABHADRA

KAVERI

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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.
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3.1 Structure of Dams
• A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment.
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“Dam” refers to the reservoir rather than the structure.

• Most dams have a section called a spillway or weir over which or through which it is intended that water will flow either
intermittently or continuously. Dams are classified according to structure, intended purpose or height.
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• Based on structure and the materials used, dams are classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry dams, with
several subtypes. According to the height, dams can be categorised as large dams and major dams or alternatively as low dams,
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medium height dams and high dams.

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Salal Project

Bhakra nangal Tehri

Rana Pratab Sagar

Sardar Sarovar
Hirakud

Tungabhadra Nagarjun Sagar

Major Dams
 GEOGRAPHY 121

3.2 Advantages of Dams

Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the ‘Temples of modern India’ because
• They integrate the development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban
economy.
• They provide water for irrigation.
• They provide water for electricity generation
• Provide water supply for domestic and industrial uses.
• Helps in flood control
• Provide recreation
• Helps in inland navigation.

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• Useful for fish breeding.
Hence, dams are now referred to as multi-purpose projects where the many uses of the impounded water are integrated with one
another.

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3.3 Problems with Dams

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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.
•
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• Multipurpose projects induced earthquakes, caused water-borne diseases, and pests, and lead to pollution resulting from
excessive use of water.
• Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to water-intensive and commercial crops. This
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has great ecological consequences like salinization of the soil.
• The dams increase the social gap between the richer landowners and the landless poor.
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• The dams create inter-state water disputes with regard to sharing the costs and benefits of the multi-purpose project.
Most of the objections to the projects arose due to their failure to achieve the purposes for which they were built.
• Ironically, the dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir.
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• Moreover, the big dams have mostly been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of excessive rainfall. The floods have
not only devastated life and property but also caused extensive soil erosion.
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• Sedimentation also meant that the flood plains were deprived of silt, a natural fertilizer, further adding to the problem of land
degradation.
• It was also observed that the multi-purpose projects induced earthquakes, causing water-borne diseases and pests, and pollution
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resulting from excessive use of water.

3.4 Hirakud Dam

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It is world’s largest earthen River Water Dam built on the river Mahanadi in Odisha
• Adverse Effects of Dams
(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 also submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of
time
• Change in Cropping Pattern
(i) Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to water-intensive and commercial
crops.
(ii) This has great ecological consequences like salinisation of the soil.
(iii) At the same time, it has transformed the social landscape i.e. increasing the social gap between the rich landowners and
the landless poor.
(iv) As we can see, the dams did create conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water
resources.
122 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

3.5 Sardar Sarovar Dam - Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada River in Navagam Gujarat. The dam was constructed to
provide water and electricity to four Indian states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. It is one of the 25 dams
planned on river Narmada
• Narmada Bachao Andolan is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that mobilized tribal people, farmers, environmentalists,
and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the 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 outsees (displaced people) to get full rehabilitation
facilities from the government.

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4 BAMBOO DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

It is a 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes and transporting water from higher to lower regions

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with the help of gravity.

Features:

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• 18-20 liters of water enter the bamboo pipe system, gets transported over hundreds of meters, and finally reduces to 20-80
drops per minute at the site of the plant.
• The flow of water into the pipes is controlled by manipulating the pipe positions.
•
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Example: Traditional farmers of Meghalaya have been utilizing this indigenous irrigation system to water their plantation crops. This
intricate design for irrigation has been perfected over 200 years of practice by farmers of Meghalaya. An ingenious system that wastes
very little water and works to this day. Traditional farmers are aware of the green and sustainable use of bamboo. It is a renewable
resource that regrows almost as quickly as it can be consumed and is thus a reliable resource for farmers for centuries to come.
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Main Channel

Water diversion
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Support Device
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Sub-Channel
At Lower
Elevation
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Holes
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DRIP IRRIGATION USING BAMBOO

5 RAINWATER HARVESTING

5.1 What is Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater is collected through the rooftop using a PVC pipe. It is filtered using sand and bricks and then underground pipe takes water
to sump for immediate usage. Excess water from the sump is taken to the well which also recharges the underground water and the
water can be later used for multiple purposes.
Working & Design
• The tanks were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system and were built inside the main house or the
courtyard.
• They were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.
• Rain falling on the rooftops would travel down the pipe and be stored in these underground ‘tankas’.
• The first spell of rain was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs and the
• Pipes.
 GEOGRAPHY 123

• The rainwater from the subsequent showers was then collected.

• The rainwater can be stored in the tankas till the next rainfall making it an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all
other sources are dried up, particularly in the summers.
• Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.

Rainwater Harvesting
Collection area
Gutter
Collection area
Rechanrge
Facility Strong
Conduit

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tank

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5.2 Need for rainwater harvesting are:
• Rainwater harvesting is needed to provide it for agriculture, collect drinking water, irrigate the fields, and to moisten the soil.
• Rainwater harvesting is a viable alternative, both socio-economically and environmentally to multipurpose projects.

5.3 Traditional methods of rainwater harvesting:

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• In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
• ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan.
• In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields.
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• In semi-arid and arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain-fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand
and moisten the soil like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.
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124 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

1. STEPWELL 2. TAANKA

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3. BAOLI 4. ERI

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5. ZABO 6. KHADIN

5.4
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Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting across India
• Tamil Nadu – It is the first state in India that has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structures compulsory for all houses across
the state.
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• Shillong, Meghalaya – The rainwater harvest is very popular. Even though Cherapunjee and Mawsynram situated at a
distance of 55 km from Shillong receive the highest rainfall in the world, yet the state capital Shillong faces an acute shortage of
water. Nearly every household in the city has a rooftop rainwater harvesting structure. Nearly 15-25 per cent of the total water
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requirement of the household comes from rooftop water harvesting.

• Rajasthan - Rainwater is commonly referred to as Palar Pani in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan.
(i) In the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer, almost all the houses
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traditionally had underground tanks for storing drinking water.

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(ii) Palar pani, as commonly referred to in these parts, is considered the purest form of natural water.
(iii) The tanks could be as large as a big room.
(iv) The tanks were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
(v) They were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.
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(vi) Rain falling on the rooftops would travel down the pipe and be stored in these underground tanks.
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(vii) The first spell of rain was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs and the pipes.
(viii) The rainwater from the subsequent showers was then collected.
Importance of rooftop rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan:
• It was commonly practiced to store drinking water.
• The rainwater can be stored in the tanks till the next rainfall, making it an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all
other sources are dried up, particularly in the summers.
• Rainwater (Palar Pani) is considered the purest form of natural water.
• Many houses construct underground rooms adjoining the ‘tanks’ to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.
• Some houses still maintain the tanks since they do not like the taste of tap water.

6 GLOSSARY IMPORTANT WORDS

1. Biosphere: Part of the earth which is covered by Living organisms both plants and animals.
2. Dam: A barrier across the flowing water.
3. Flora : Plants of particular region or period are referred to as flora.
 GEOGRAPHY 125

4. Fauna : Species of animals are known as fauna.

5. Forest: Extensive area covered with trees.
6. Ground water: Water which is obtained from a depth of more than 15 m.
7. Hydroelectricity: It is the power which is generated with the help of running water.
8. Multipurpose Project: A river valley project which serves a number of purposes.
9. Perennial Canals : Canals developed by a diverting water from rivers that flow throughout the year.
10. Soil: The upper layer of the ground containing weathered rocks and humus.
11. Water Scarcity: Shortage of water as compared to its demand.
12. Rain water harvesting : It is a technique of increasing the recharge of ground water by capturing and storing rainwater by constructing

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structures such as percolating pits, check dams etc.
13. Drip Irrigation : A type of irrigation where water gets dropped in the form of drops near the roots of the plant mainly to conserve the
moisture.

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14. Inundation canal: Canal meant for diverting flood waters mainly during the rainy season.
15. Irrigation : Artificial means of supplying water to farm Lands in the form of canals, wells, tubewells and tanks.

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16. Surface water: Water flowing on the earth’s surface in the form of rivers, Lakes etc.
17. Tanka: Natural or man made reservoir to store rain water.

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126 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

Chapter at Glance
(1) Water is a precious resource which is necessary for life, almost 3/4 of the Earth’s surface is covered with watery but fresh
water which can be put to use is only a small proportion of it.
(2) The shortage of water as compared to its demand is known as water scarcity.
(3) Many countries and regions suffer from water scarcity because of over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access among
different social groups.
(4) Increasing population, growing urbanisation, intensive industrialisation and water pollution are important causes of water
scarcity in India.

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(5) Multi-purpose river project launched after independence aim to develop proper management of water resources by storing
river water for many purposes.
(6) The adverse effects of these projects are

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(a) destruction of the environment
(b) reduction in soil fertility

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(c) displacement of people
(d) impact on aquatic life
(e) territorial water dispute

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(g) excessive use of water
(7) In recent years multi-purpose river projects face several resentment and opposition from public as well as civil society because
of their multiple adverse effects. Examples – Narmada Bachao Andolan
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(8) Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater for reuse before it runs off. It helps in meeting our growing
water needs. A lot of states in India are setting great examples for rainwater harvesting
(9) Various traditional rainwater harvesting systems are prevalent in India. Such as rooftop rainwater harvesting, tankas,
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bamboo drip irrigation Johads, Khadins, Guls or Kals.

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 GEOGRAPHY 127

? CHAPTER
? PRACTICE

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

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1. Which one of the following statements is not an argument in 8. The diversion channels seen in the Western Himalayas are
favour of multi-purpose river projects? called:
(a) Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas which (a) Guls or Kuls (b) Khadins

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suffer from water scarcity
(c) Johads (d) Recharge pits
(b) Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow help to
9. Agricultural fields which are used as rainfed storage structures

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control floods
are called:
(c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large-scale displacements
and loss of livelihood. (a) Kuls (b) Khadins/Johads
(c) Recharge pits (d) None of the above
(d) Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our
industries and our homes. 10. Underground tanks seen in Rajasthan to store rainwater for
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2. Which is not a source of fresh water?
(a) Tankas (b) Khadin
(a) Glaciers and ice sheets (b) Groundwater
(c) Ponds (d) Kuls
(c) Surface run off (d) Oceans
11. In Western Rajasthan today plenty of water is available due to:
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3. According to Falkan Mark, water stress occurs when:
(a) Rooftop water harvesting
(a) Water availability is less than 1000 cubic metre per
person per day. (b) Perennial Rajasthan Canal
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(b) There is no water scarcity. (c) Construction of Tankas

(c) There is flood. (d) None of the above

12. Bamboo drip irrigation system is prevalent in:
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(d) Water availability is more than 1000 cubic metre per

person per day. (a) Manipur (b) Meghalaya
4. Which of the following are not causes of water scarcity? (c) Mizoram (d) Madhya Pradesh
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(a) Growing population 13. The only State which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting
(b) Growing of water intensive crop structure compulsory to all the houses is:

(c) Expansion of irrigation facilities (a) Andhra Pradesh (b) Karnataka

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(d) Individual wells and tubewells in farms (c) Tamil Nadu (d) West Bengal

(e) Water harvesting technique 14. The remote village that has earned the rare distinction of
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being rich in rainwater?

(f) Industries
(a) Gari (b) Kaza
(g) Roof top harvesting system
(c) Gendathur (d) None of the above
5. Bhakra Nangal River Valley Project is made on the river:
15. Which one of the following is not an adverse effect of
(a) Sutlej-Beas (b) Ravi-Chenab irrigation?
(c) Ganga (d) Son (a) Irrigation changes cropping pattern
6. Hirakud Dam is constructed on the river: (b) Water intensive crops are grown in dry areas
(a) Ganga (b) Manjira (c) Salinisation of soil
(c) Manas (d) Mahanadi (d) Increases crop yield
7. Water of Bhakra Nangal Project is being used mainly for: 16. Which of the following social movements is/ are not a
(a) Hydel power and irrigation resistance to multi-purpose projects?

(b) Fish breeding and navigation (a) Narmada Bachao Andolan

(c) Industrial use (b) Tehri Dam Andolan

(d) Flood control (c) Navdanya

(d) Chipko Movement
128 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

1
3. What were the reasons for launching multi-purpose river
MARKS QUESTIONS projects in India after independence?
4. Multi-purpose projects are ‘Temples of Modern India’. Justify.
1. What is the most important benefit of ‘hydrological cycle’?
[OR]
2. What are the sources of freshwater on Earth?
Why are multi-purpose projects considered as the ‘Temples of
3. What will be the consequences, if the fresh water is not Modern India’?
conserved now?
5. Construction of the Rihand dam has displaced people living
4. How does agriculture sector contribute to depletion of fresh in the area, who accepted their sufferings as a sacrifice for the
water in India? sake of nation. But now, after thirty bitter years of being adrift,
their livelihood having even become more precarious, they

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5. Name the hydraulic structure that obstructs the flowing water
keep asking: “Are we the only ones chosen to make sacrifices
and regulates the flow for constructive purpose?
for the nation?”
6. What are popularly termed as ‘The Temples of Modern India’? Do you think that their complaint is justified? If so what should

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7. Define the term ‘Dam’. the government have done at that time, so that this would not
come to pass? [Value Based Question]

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8. Give an example where ancient large hydraulic structure was
built. 6. A recent newspaper report states, “With Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka failing to agree on how much Kaveri water should
9. Give one argument in favour of multi-purpose project. be released by Karnataka, the Supreme Court will now decide
10. What is the importance of Hirakud Project? whether Tamil Nadu plea for the release of 30 thousand
sa S million cubic feet of water between 1 and 15 is feasible.”
11. Name some hydroelectric projects on Damodar River Basin.
Why do the State Government have disputes which
12. Give one negative consequence of damming on aquatic reach the Supreme Court? Is there not a better method
creatures. for solving such disputes which are acceptable to all?
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[Value Based Question]
[OR]
7. Give two reasons why rainwater harvesting is important in
How dams affect negatively on aquatic organism?
India .Name two states which practices rainwater harvesting
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13. How do dams result in land degradation? Give one example. in India.

14. How did irrigation change the cropping pattern in India? 8. What is the reason behind Krishna-Godavari water disputes?
Name the multi-purpose river valley project constructed Om
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15. Why people oppose the big hydroelectric projects in India? River Krishna.
16. What is the traditional system of rainwater harvesting used in 9. Mention any three water harvesting systems practised in India.
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Rajasthan?

17. Which is the first state of make it mandatory for all house
holders to harvest rooftop rainwater? 5 MARKS QUESTIONS
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1. Describe the important factors responsible for the water

18. What are ‘Guls’ or ‘Kuls’?
scarcity in the world?
19. What are the benefits of constructing tankas in Rajasthan? 2. How do increasing number of industries exert pressure on
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20. Cherrapunji gets more than 1100 cm rainfall annually, but existing fresh water resources?
only 55 km away Shillong gets only about 100 cm rainfall and 3. What are inter-state disputes? Why are such issues raised?
consequently faces water scarcity, why so contrast? Give some examples of such disputes.
4. Explain any five reasons for water pollution in India.

3 MARKS QUESTIONS 5. Describe the working of the rooftop rainwater harvesting

being practised in India.
1. What are the benefits of conservation of water? [OR]
Describe the procedure for rooftop rainwater harvesting.
[OR]
6. What are multi-purpose projects and why they are called so?
Give three reasons to justify the need to conserve water. 7. Describe in brief the categorization of dams in India.
2. Why is the scarcity of water increasing day-by-day in India? 8. How are rainwater systems prevalent in India with different
Explain any three reasons. names and methods?
9. Despite various advantages multi-purpose projects are
[OR]
opposed by people. Why?
Explain any three causes for water scarcity in most parts of
India.
 GEOGRAPHY 129

HOTS QUESTIONS

1. Water from dirty ponds and sewages evaporates and becomes gentle slope of 1/200 m. Then which river is best suitable for
cloud in the sky then rains as pure water into lakes/ponds. construction of dam for hydroelectric purpose? [HOTS]
Taking this situation into account, in which type of resource 10. Recently inter-state river water disputes increased significantly.
you may put water? [HOTS] Why do? [HOTS]
2. Even though three-fourth of the Earth’s surface is water which 11. Besides flood and sedimentation, what are the other negative
is a renewable resource, then why it is predicted that by 2025, consequences of multi-purpose projects? [HOTS]
nearly 2 billion people will live in absolute water scarcity?

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12. Why may an area or region having ample water resources still
[HOTS]
face water scarcity? [HOTS]
3. Some places have sufficient amount of water in the
13. Identity any three hydraulic structures as part of water
surrounding, but still face water scarcity. What do you

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management programmes initiated in ancient India along
conclude from this situation? [HOTS]
with the period when they were built. [HOTS]
4. Do you think Indian, rivers have enough fresh water for

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14. Explain any three reasons due to which large dams have come
human consumption? [HOTS]
under great opposition in recent years. [HOTS]
5. Delhi gets average annual rainfall of 75 cm but is the largest
[OR]
urban area in India. This year monsoon is weak and what
would be the effect on Delhi? [HOTS] Explain three reasons for multi-purpose projects and large
dams coming under great scrutiny and opposition.
6. A region having annual rainfall of 75 cm but contains 1 lakh
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rural population and another region having 125 cm rainfall [OR]
but is an urban area with 50 lakh population. Which area you How construction of large dams has become a controversial
think may face water scarcity? [HOTS] issue?
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7. In Kerala, it is now in news that some regions have their 15. Gujarat and Maharashtra have many river water dams and
groundwater contaminated and small rivers have already reservoirs but these states were flooded extensively in 2006.
polluted due to industrialisation. What solution do you What was the reason? [HOTS]
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offer the local people to counter consequent drinking water

16. Why is ground water a highly overused resource? [HOTS]
problem? [HOTS]
17. Why are different water harvesting systems considered a viable
8. Hydroelectric power contributes about 22 percent of its
alternative both socio- economically and environmentally in a
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total energy produced in India, why it is not increased as its

country like India? [HOTS]
neighbours have more than 30 percent hydel powers?
18. Analyse the factors causing problems associated with water
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[HOTS]
resources in India. [HOTS]
9. Let’s consider two rivers Yamuna and Suryu flows in the
19. Analyse how can an individual contribute to save water?
same state of Madhya Pradesh. Yamuna is flowing with sharp
gradient/slope of 1/20 metre, whereas Suryu is flowing on [HOTS]
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CASE BASED QUESTIONS

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Read the following source and answer the questions that I. Water everywhere, not a drop to drink?
follows: 1(I-III)
II. Give reasons why rainfall rich states also face water scarcity
Case -1: Earth 3/4th surface is covered with water still there is problems?
water scarcity, though water is considered as renewable resource is
III. Write some government initiatives to solve the problem of
availability is limited. A report by the NITI Aayog stated that around 2
water crises.
lakh people die in India every year due to inadequate water supply. It Read the following source and answer the questions that
is common perceptions that only dry states like Rajasthan face water follows: 2(I-III)
problem but the myth is broken by the recent ground water crises in
Case -2: Many thought that given the disadvantages and rising
cities of Chennai and Delhi. Surprisingly lack of availability of water is
resistance against the multi-purpose projects, water harvesting
also supplemented with quality of availability of water which is major
system was a viable alternative, both socio-economically and
source of many water prone diseases in India. Effective measures
environmentally. In ancient India, along with the sophisticated
have to be taken by both state and central government to ensure
hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition of water
water security to its citizens and problem should be resolved in time
harvesting system. People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes
bound manner.
and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest
Based on the above information, answer the following question rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping
130 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

with the local ecological conditions and their water needs. In hill soil like the ‘Khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of
and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the Rajasthan.
‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas for agriculture. ‘Rooftop Based on the above information, answer the following question
rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practised to store drinking
water, particularly in Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people I. Why is water harvesting system a viable alternative?
developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. In arid and II. Describe the process of ‘rooftop rainwater harvesting’?
semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed
III. Mention any two methods adopted by ancient India for water
storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the
conservation.

MAP BASED QUESTIONS

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1. On the map of India given below, mark and label the locations 2. On the map of India given below, mark and label the states
of the following dams where the following rainwater harvesting systems are found

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(i) Hirakud (i) Underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking water.

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(ii) Koyna (ii) Bamboo drip crop irrigation system.
(iii) Tungabhadra (iii) Diversion channels like ‘Guls’ or Kuls’ for agriculture.
(iv) Bhakra Nangal (iv) A village having 200 households with rooftop rainwater
harvesting systems installed.
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 GEOGRAPHY 131

EXAM PRACTICE
NCERT QUESTIONS

1. Multiple choice questions (a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense
(I) Based on the information given below classify each of populations and urban lifestyles have helped in

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the situations as ‘suffering from water scarcity’ or ‘not proper utilisation of water resources.
suffering from water scarcity’. (b) Regulating and damming of rivers does not affect the
river’s natural flow and its sediment flow.

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(a) Region with high annual rainfall.
(b) Region having high annual rainfall and large (c) In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were not
agitated when higher priority was given to water

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population.
supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
(c) Region having high annual rainfall but water is
highly polluted. (d) Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater
water harvesting has gained popularity despite high
(d) Region having low rainfall and low population.
water availability due to the Rajasthan Canal.
(II) Which one of the following statements is not an argument
sa S 2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
in favour of multi-purpose river projects?
(i) Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.
(a) Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas
which suffer from water scarcity. (ii) What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?
(iii) Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-
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(b) Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow helps
to control floods. purpose river projects.

(c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale 3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
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displacements and loss of livelihood. (i) Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of
(d) Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our Rajasthan is carried out.
industries and our homes. (ii) Describe how modern adaptations of traditional
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(III) Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to
rewrite them correctly. conserve and store water.
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CBSE PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

a

1. In which of the following State Tungabhadra Dam is located? 6. “Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing
population in India.” Analyse the statement. [2019]
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[2023]
(a) Tamil Nadu (b) Kerala 7. “Multi-purpose projects and large dams have been the cause
of many new social movements”. Highlight the concerns
(c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Karnataka [2023]
related to such movements. [2019]
2. Which one of the following factors is mainly responsible for
8. “Urbanisation has added to water scarcity.” Support the
declining water level in India? [2021-22]
statement with arguments. [2019]
(a) Irrigation (b) Industrilisation
9. “The dams that were constructed to control floods have
(c) Urbanisation (d) Over utilisation triggered floods.” Analyse the statement. [2019]
3. Name any one river valley project which has significantly 10. “Water harvesting system is an effective measure to reduce the
contributed to the loss of forests. [2014] problem of water scarcity.” Justify the statement. [2019]
4. How are traditional rainwater harvesting methods being 11. How has Shillong solve the problem of acute shortage of
carried out to conserve water resource in different regions? water? [2019]
Explain with examples. [2023] 12. How has Tamil Nadu solved the problem of acute shortage of
5. “Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient water? [2019]
time we have been constructing sophisticated hydraulic 13. How has ever increasing number of industries in India made
structures in India”. Substantiate the statement by giving three worse position by exerting pressure on existing freshwater
evidences. [2019] resources? Explain. [2018]
132 Chapter 3 : Water Resources

15. “Water scarcity is increasing day-by-day”. Justify the statement built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western
citing three reason. [2017] Himalayas for agriculture. ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was
16. Read the given source and answer the questions that follows: commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in
Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed in-
Many thought that given the disadvantages and rising resis-
undation channels to irrigate their fields. In arid and semi-arid
tance against the multi purpose projects. Water harvesting
regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage
system was a viable alternative. Both socio-economically and
structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil
environmentally. In ancient India, along with the sophisticated
like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of
hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition
Rajasthan.
of water harvesting system. People had in-depth knowledge
(i) Why is water harvesting system a viable alternative?
of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging
(ii) Describe the process of ‘rooftop rainwater harvesting.’
techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water and
(iii) Mention any two methods adopted by ancient India for

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flood water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and
water conservation. [2023]
their water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people
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ANSWER KEYS

Multiple Choice Question

1 c 2 d 3 a 4 e, g 5 a 6 d 7 a 8 b 9 b 10 a
11 b 12 b 13 c 14 c 15 d 16 c, d

NCERT Question

I II III

Past Year Question

1 d 2 d