📜 Chapter 11: India: Water

Resources

1. Introduction: Importance of Water

• Primacy: 'There is water hence there is life.' Any type of life
cannot be imagined on the earth without water.
• Necessity: The list of its usages is very long. The entire
biotic world uses water to sustain itself.
• National Prosperity: The prosperity of any nation depends
on its agriculture and the amount of water it uses. Water is
also required for drinking, domestic uses, and in
industries.
• Conservation Need: Water shortage is being created due
to increasing population and development projects. It is
necessary to use water sparingly as it is a limited
resource and no other resource can be used in its
place.

2. Sources of Water
There are three main sources of water:
[Link] water
[Link] water
[Link] water
Source Description Significance
Rain 'Rain' is the original source of The primary origin of all
Water water on the earth. Rivers, lakes, water.
streams, wells, etc., are
Source Description Significance
secondary sources, existing
due to rainfall.
Surfac Water on the surface of the Rivers are the main
e earth, found in the form of river,
source of surface
Water lake, pond, sea, streams, etc. water.
Has an important
Groun Water obtained due to the
place among water
d process of water absorbed by
sources. The volume of
Water the lower strata of the land.
groundwater is limited.
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3. Distribution of Water Resources

• Total Water: The total water on the earth is estimated to be
100%.
• Usable Water: 97% of the water is in the seas and
oceans (salty). Only 3% of the water is fresh water.
• Fresh Water Allocation: Of the 3% fresh water:
• 70% is in the form of ice (in high mountains and the
Poles).
• 30% is in the form of ground water.
• Water Availability in India: India receives an average of
1,250 mm of rainfall (approximately 4% of the world's
surface water).
• Ground Water Utilization:
• Northern Plains: About 42% of ground water is used
here.
• Southern States: Use of ground water is less due to
the plateau region and limited storage capacity.
4. Irrigation
• Primary Use: In India, 60% of water is used for irrigation.
• Regional Variation: The volume of irrigation is more in
areas of low rainfall and where the crops need more
water.
• Leading States: Mizoram has only 7.3% of the area under
irrigation, while Punjab has up to 90% of its area under
irrigation.
• Top Irrigated States: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu.
Type of
Leading States Note
Irrigation
Limited in
Canal Punjab, Haryana, Uttar
Plateau/Peninsula due to
Irrigatio Pradesh (More common in
river flow/unsuitable
n Great Plains).
terrain.
Well/ Northern Great Plains
Suitable for alluvial soil
Tube (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
and plain land.
Well Gujarat, Haryana).
Tank Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Developed in rocky
Irrigatio Nadu (More common in plateaus where ground
n Southern States). water is scarce.
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5. Multi-Purpose River Valley Projects

Definition: A combination of two or more interconnected
objectives, such as generating hydroelectricity, controlling flood,
irrigation, soil conservation, and internal navigation.
• Significance: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called
these projects the "Temples of Modern India".
• Objectives:
 [Link] Control: Reduces the destructive effects of
floods.
[Link]: Provides water for irrigation to agriculture.
[Link]: Generates hydro-electricity (clean
energy).
[Link] Waterways: Develops waterways for
transportation.
[Link] Supply: Provides drinking water to industries
and large settlements.
[Link]/Forest Conservation: Supports soil and forest
conservation.
[Link]/Tourism: Develops fisheries and
tourism/recreation.

Major Projects in India:

Project
River Benefit States
Name
Bhakhra-
Sutlej Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
Nangal
Damodar Damoda
Bihar (Jharkhand), West Bengal
Valley r
Mahana
Hirakud Odisha
di
Kosi Kosi Bihar
Tungabha Tungabh
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
dra adra
Nagarjuns
Krishna Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
agar
Chambal Chamba
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
Valley l
Rihand Rihand Uttar Pradesh
Mahi Mahi Gujarat
Project
River Benefit States
Name
Sardar Narmad Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Sarovar a Rajasthan, Gujarat
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6. Water Crisis (Water Scarcity)

Context: Water is essential, yet its availability is limited.

Causes of Water Scarcity:

[Link] Demand: Increasing population demands more
water for drinking, domestic, and agricultural use.
[Link] of Agriculture: Increased production
of cash crops (which require more water) leads to higher
water consumption.
[Link]: Urban life increases the consumption and
use of water for domestic and luxury purposes.
[Link]: Industrial units are using huge quantities
of water in the manufacturing process.
[Link] Management: Lack of proper management of
water resources.
[Link]: Water becomes unusable due to sewage,
industrial waste, and poisonous disposal.

Effects of Scarcity:
• Reduction in Agricultural Production: Non-availability of
water for irrigation affects crops.
• Desertification: Affects environmental and human
health.
• Impact on Life: Affects the life of man, animals, and
vegetation.
7. Water Management and Conservation
Definition of Water Conservation: The efficient and well-
planned use of water resources.

Strategy for Water Conservation:

[Link]-Saving Methods: Economical use of water for
irrigation, such as Drip Irrigation and Sprinkler
Irrigation.
[Link] Harvesting: Stopping rainwater from flowing
away by creating structures to store or recharge it.
[Link] Reuse: Reuse of domestic water for gardening or
other purposes.
[Link] Bodies: Developing and maintaining reservoirs,
tanks, and lakes.
[Link] Auditing: Determining the quantity of water used
and planning to use it frugally.
[Link] Provisions: Framing and enforcing strict laws to
curb water pollution.
[Link] Awareness: Creating public awareness for the
judicious use of water.

Measures for Ground Water Conservation:

[Link] Percolation: Increasing the volume of water
percolating into the ground.
[Link] Ponds: Creating 'Khet Talavadi' (Farm Ponds) to
store rainwater.
[Link] Recharge: Constructing check dams, reservoir
tanks, and Talav (lakes).
 [Link] Dams: Construction of check dams in river/rivulet
areas to hold water.
[Link] Trenches: Building special trenches to promote
ground water recharge.

Rainwater Harvesting (Key Conservation Method)

Definition: The systematic storage of rainwater using special
methods.
• Objective: To increase the capacity of ground water and
reduce ground water pollution.
• Methods:
• Wells: Digging wells and recharging them with
rainwater.
• Tanks: Construction of small storage tanks on farms.
• Rooftop Systems: Storing rainwater in tanks via
rooftop pipes.
• Check Dams: Constructing check dams for slowing
down water flow.

8. Water Resources in Gujarat

• Major Rivers: Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati.
• Water Scarcity: Gujarat is in the water scarcity zone.
• Dependence on Narmada: Most of the drinking and
irrigation water depends on the Sardar Sarovar Yojana
(Narmada River).
• Regional Water Grid: Developed to supply water from the
South of Gujarat to the North and Saurashtra regions
(e.g., through the Saurashtra Branch Canal).
• Ground Water Management: Strict laws have been
enforced to prohibit the unmanaged use of ground water.
• Key Schemes:
• Sujalam-Sufalam Yojana: A master plan for water
management.
• Khet Talavadi: A scheme for creating farm ponds.
• Check Dams: Construction of thousands of check
dams.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Encouraging rainwater
harvesting.
• Public Participation: Many institutions and religious
organizations are participating in water conservation.