3 Water Resources

CHAPTER

Level - 1 CORE SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)
1. Option (D) is correct The Bhakra Dam has several hydro electric power
Explanation: Meghalaya, a state in north-eastern plants that generate electricity, supplying power
India, is known for its traditional bamboo drip to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal
irrigation system. This ancient method is widely Pradesh.
used by farmers, particularly in hilly areas, to Irrigation (ii)– The dam provides irrigation water
efficiently channel water from natural springs to to vast agricultural lands in Punjab, Haryana, and
agricultural fields. The system relies on bamboo Rajasthan, making it crucial for India’s Green
pipes to transport water over long distances, Revolution.
ensuring minimal wastage and sustainable Transportation (iii)– The dam is not used for
irrigation. navigation or transportation.
2. Option (C) is correct Cleaning (iv)– While water may be used in some
Explanation: The bamboo drip irrigation system is cleaning processes, this is not a primary purpose
of the project.
a traditional and eco-friendly method of irrigation
primarily practicsed in Meghalaya, especially in 6. Option (C) is correct
its hilly regions. This system uses bamboo pipes Explanation: The phrase “dams are the modern
to transport and distribute water from natural temples of India” was famously proclaimed by
springs to agricultural fields. It is known for its Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.
efficiency in conserving water and is mainly used He emphasised the crucial role of dams in the
for irrigating betel leaf, black pepper, and areca economic development of the country.
nut plantations. The dams support irrigation by providing water
for agriculture, boosting food production and
3. Option (C) is correct
rural livelihoods. The dams provide hydroelectric
Explanation: Tankas are underground rainwater
power thereby helping in industrial and urban
storage tanks, traditionally used in the Thar
[Link] help regulate water flow and
Desert region of Rajasthan, particularly in areas prevent floods, ensuring stability in agricultural
like Jaisalmer and Bikaner. These structures help and urban areas.
conserve rainwater for household use, drinking,
7. Option (A) is correct
and irrigation in regions with low rainfall and
Explanation: In recent years, large dams have
scarce water sources.
been criticised for several social, economic, and
4. Option (D) is correct environmental reasons. One major issue is the
Explanation: The Tungabhadra Dam is located in unequal distribution of water and benefits,
the Ballari district of Karnataka. It is built across leading to social and economic disparities:
the Tungabhadra River, which is a tributary of the Unequal access to water– Wealthy farmers with
Krishna River. It is a multi-purpose dam used for large landholdings get better access to irrigation,
irrigation, hydro electric power generation, flood while small and marginal farmers often struggle.
control, and drinking water supply. Change in cropping patterns – With assured
5. Option (B) is correct irrigation, farmers shift to water-intensive crops
Explanation: The Bhakra-Nangal Project is one of (e.g., sugarcane, rice), leading to overuse of water
the largest multi-purpose river valley projects in and soil degradation.
India. It is built on the Sutlej River in Himachal Displacement of Communities– Large dam
Pradesh and Punjab. projects often submerge villages, displacing
 thousands of people, particularly tribal and rural 8. Option (C) is correct.
populations. Explanation: In the Western Himalayas, Guls (or

Environmental Concerns– Dams disrupt river Kuls) are traditional diversion channels used to
ecosystems, fish migration, and biodiversity, carry water from glaciers and streams to fields for
affecting local livelihoods. irrigation.

MATCH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. Option (D) is correct. Rana Pratap Sagar dam is built across Chambal
Explanation: Sardar Sarovar dam is built on river in Rajasthan.
Narmada river in Gujarat. Salal dam is built across Chenab river in Jammu
Hirakud Dam is the longest earthen dam in the and Kashmir.
world, built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha. 3. Option (A) is correct
Bhakra Nangal Dam is a concrete gravity dam Explanation: Rainwater is the purest form of
on the Satluj River in Bhakra Village in Bilaspur water, underground water are used via hand
district, Himachal Pradesh. pumps, sea water is saline water containing large
Nagarjunasagar dam is a masonry dam across the amounts of salt and flood leads to soil erosion.
Krishna River on the border of Andhra Pradesh 4. Option (A) is correct
and Telangana. Explanation: Khadins and johad are storage
2. Option (C) is correct structures for rainwater in Jaisalmer and parts
Explanation: Hirakud dam is built across of Rajasthan, respectively, Tankas are found in
Mahanadi river in Odisha. parts of Rajasthan especially in Bikaner; Barmer,
Sardar Sarovar dam is built on Narmada river in Phalodi, Guls and Kuls are diversion channels
Gujarat. found in western Himalayas.

ASSERTION-REASON QUESTIONS
1. Option (C) is correct renewed. Freshwater sources such as rivers,
Explanation: Assertion is true as growing lakes, and groundwater are replenished through
population leads to water scarcity. Reason is false precipitation and the movement of water within
as dams provide the means for water storage to the hydrological cycle. Reason (R) correctly
overcome the problem of water scarcity. explains why Assertion (A) is true.
2. Option (C) is correct 4. Option (A) is correct
Explanation: Water is utilised on a large basis Explanation: Dams serve multiple functions
because the increasing population requires beyond just storing water. They contribute to
irrigation, hydro-electric power generation, flood
more water for cooking, washing, etc. So, solely
control, and more.
irrigation is not responsible for water scarcity.
Dams are built for irrigation, electricity generation,
3. Option (A) is correct
water supply, water supply for domestic and
Explanation: Water is considered a renewable industrial use, flood control, recreation, and fish
resource because it is replenished through the breeding. Dams provide water for agriculture,
natural water cycle, which includes precipitation, generate electricity, supply drinking and
evaporation, and condensation. industrial water, help in flood management, and
Freshwater is mainly obtained from surface support activities like fishing and tourism. Reason
runoff and groundwater that is continually being correctly explains why Assertion is true.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. (i) The water in the stepwells can be accessed (2) Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh, Bennur
easily by descending down the steps. in Karnataka, Kolhapur in Maharashtra
(ii) Stepwells are communal in nature where and Kalinga in Odisha have evidences of
anyone can use the water.
irrigation structures.
2. Sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams built
of stone rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments (3) In the 11th century, Bhopal lake, one of the
and canals for irrigation were built in various largest artificial lakes of its time was built.
regions of the country.
(4) 
The tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi was
(1)  A sophisticated water harvesting system
constructed by Alauddin Khilji in the 14th
channelling the flood water of river Ganga
was built at Sringaverpura near Allahabad in century to supply water to the Siri Fort area.
the 1st century B.C.  (Any two)
 3. Groundwater is a highly overused resource (ii) H
ydroelectric Power Generation: They
because: produce electricity by using water to turn
(i) Due to large and growing population and turbines.
consequent greater demands for water and (iii) Flood Control: Dams help regulate river
unequal access to it. flow, preventing floods in downstream areas.
(ii) To facilitate higher food grain production for (iv) R
ecreation and Fisheries: They support
large population, water resources are being activities like boating, tourism, and fish
over exploited to expand irrigated areas and breeding. (Any two)
dry season agriculture. 6. Traditional water harvesting systems help
(iii) In the housing societies or colonies in the conserve and store water efficiently, ensuring
cities, there is an arrangement of own water availability for agriculture and daily use,
ground water pumping devices to meet especially in water-scarce regions. These systems
water demands. are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and rely on local
4. The social consequences of multi-purpose projects knowledge.
are: Khadins (Rajasthan): Khadins are earthen
(i) 
(i) 
It led to heavy displacement of people embankments built across slopes to capture
which deprived the people of their land and and store rainwater. The collected water
livelihood. seeps into the soil, making it available for
crop cultivation.
(ii) It has increased the economic gap between
the rich landowners and the landless poor. Johads (Haryana & Rajasthan): Johads are
(ii) 
small, crescent-shaped ponds that collect
5. Dams are called multi-purpose projects because
rainwater. They recharge groundwater,
they serve multiple functions, such as:
improve soil moisture, and help in drought-
(i) Irrigation and Water Supply: Dams store
 prone areas. These systems promote
water for agricultural irrigation and provide sustainable water management and reduce
drinking and industrial water. dependence on large dams.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. (i) It represents the interconnectedness and 4. (i) The advantages of rainwater harvesting are:
inter-dependence between resources.
(1) Provides water for drinking.
Availability of food resources depends on
water and a negative impact on agriculture (2) Provides irrigation water for inundation
would affect livelihoods impacting human channels.
resource. (ii) 
The different ways in which rainwater
(ii)  The situation represents lack of water harvesting is practised are:
management and over reliance on monsoons.
2. Post-independent India witnessed intensive (1) People build diversion channels like kuls
industrialisation and urbanisation. or guls of Western Himalayas.
(i) Apart from fresh water, MNCs also require (2) People build tankas, underground tanks
electricity, which comes from hydroelectric in Rajasthan.
power.
5. Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed dams as the
(ii) Multiplying urban centres with large and
dense populations and urban lifestyles “temples of modern India” because he saw
have not only added to water and energy them as symbols of progress, development,
requirements, but have further aggravated and self-sufficiency. He believed that large-scale
the problem. infrastructure projects like dams would play a
(iii) 
Large-scale migration from rural to urban
crucial role in building a strong and prosperous
areas is causing over exploitation of water
resources. nation.
(iv) Industrial wastes and effluents are discharged (i) conomic Development and Industrial
E
into rivers causing water pollution. Growth: Dams support irrigation,
 (Any three) hydroelectric power generation, and water
3. (i) False, because there are evidences of dams supply, which are essential for agricultural
found in ancient India as well.
and industrial development. They help
(ii) Name: Hirakud project in the Mahanadi
Basin. increase crop production and provide
Benefits: (1) Conservation of water; (2) Flood electricity for industries, boosting economic
control. progress.
 (ii) F
lood Control and Water Conservation: (ii) There has been growing concerns that even
Dams regulate river flow, preventing floods when there is ample water available to meet
that can destroy crops, property, and lives. the needs of the people, much of it may get
They store water for use during dry periods, polluted by domestic and industrial wastes,
ensuring water availability for drinking and chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers used
agriculture. in agriculture, thus making it incapable for
(iii) S
 elf-Reliance and Nation-Building: Nehru human use.
saw dams as symbols of India’s self-reliance (iii) 
Fragile water resources get polluted due
and scientific [Link] represented to release of various kinds of wastes in
India’s ability to use modern technology water bodies. Toxic gases and chemicals are
for development, reducing dependence on released into it thereby causing scarcity of
foreign resources. water resource.

Thus, Nehru considered dams as the 7. Bamboo drip irrigation system is a 200 year old
foundation of a modern and strong India, system of tapping stream and spring water by
just as temples were the foundation of using bamboo pipe and transporting water from
ancient cultural and spiritual life. higher to lower regions through gravity.
6. Though water is sufficiently available to meet the The features of Bamboo drip irrigation are:
needs of the people, but many areas still suffers (i) 18-20 litres of water enters the bamboo pipe
from water scarcity. This can be substantiated system, gets transported over hundreds of
through following arguments: meters and finally reduces to 20-80 drops per
(i) 
Water scarcity may also be caused due to minute at the site of the plant.
bad quality or polluted water despite its (ii) The flow of water into the pipes is controlled
abundance. by manipulating the pipe positions.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. (i) 
Damming affects the natural flow leading (ii) Water availability varies over space and time
to poorer sediment flow and excessive mainly due to the variation in seasonal and
sedimentation. annual precipitation.
(ii) 
Fragmentation of rivers due to damming (iii) Rapid urbanisation.
makes it difficult for migration of aquatic (iv) Rapid increase in population that demand
fauna. more and more water.
(iii) 
The reservoirs that are created on the (v)  Industrialisation is another cause; large
existing flood plains submerge and cause industrial houses are using more and more
decomposition of existing vegetation. water.
(iv) Multi-purpose projects have led to the large- (vi) More water is required to generate electricity.
scale displacement of local communities.  (Any five)
Example- Tehri Dam Andolan. 3. Rooftop water harvesting is important in
(v) Inter-state water disputes regarding the costs Rajasthan because:
and benefits of these projects, are increasing. (i) It was commonly practised to store drinking
Example- Krishna-Godavari dispute between water.
Andhra and Karnataka governments. (ii) The rainwater can be stored in the tanks till
the next rainfall, making it extremely reliable
(vi) Conflicts between people wanting different
source of drinking water when all other
uses and benefits from the same water
sources are dried up, particularly in the
resource are increasing. Example- Agitation
summers.
by farmers in Sabarmati basin, Gujarat.
(iii) Rainwater, or Palarpani, as commonly to as
 (Any five)
in these parts, is considered the purest form
2. Water scarcity is due to the following reasons: of natural water.
(i) 96.5 per cent of the total volume of world’s
(iv) Many houses construct underground rooms
water is estimated to exist as oceans and only
adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer
2.5 per cent as fresh water. Nearly 70 per cent
of this fresh water occurs as ice sheets and heat as it would keep the room cool.
glaciers, while a little less than 30 per cent as (v) Some houses still maintain the tanks since
groundwater in the world’s aquifers. they do not like the taste of tap water.
 4. Keeping in view the disadvantages and rising diversion channels like ‘guls’ and ‘kuls’ for
resistance against the multi-purpose projects, agriculture.
water harvesting system is considered a (iii) 
Rooftop rain water harvesting was
viable alternative both socio-economically and
commonly practised to store drinking water,
environmentally.
particularly in Rajasthan.
(i) 
In ancient India also along with the
sophisticated hydraulic structures, there (iv) 
In the flood plains of Bengal, people
existed an extraordinary tradition of various developed inundation channels to irrigate
water harvesting systems. their fields. Khadins, Johads and Tankas are
(ii) 
People adopted different techniques in the forms of rainwater harvesting practised
different areas. In hilly regions people built in Rajasthan.

Level - 2 ADVANCED COMPETENCY FOCUSED QUESTIONS

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)
1. Option (B) is correct rainfall and dry climate, clearly demonstrates
Explanation: India receives a large amount of that traditional knowledge, when applied with
rainfall annually, but it is highly seasonal, with modern needs, can effectively address water
most rain falling during the monsoon months scarcity. Such methods are low-cost, eco-friendly,
(June–September). The distribution is uneven and community-driven. They help recharge
across regions—some areas receive floods, while groundwater, ensuring water availability for crops
others remain dry. This leads to water scarcity and daily use, especially during dry seasons.
during non-monsoon periods, especially in 4. Option (B) is correct
summer. Explanation: In states like Punjab and Haryana,
Hence, the correct inference is that seasonal and the widespread use of tube wells for irrigation—
uneven distribution is a major cause of water especially for water-intensive crops like paddy—
stress in India. has overdrawn groundwater far beyond its
2. Option (C) is correct natural recharge rate, caused lowering of the
Explanation: The construction of large dams water table, resulting in dry wells and long-term
often leads to submergence of forests, affecting water scarcity.
biodiversity and ecosystems, displacement of 5. Option (C) is correct
tribal and local communities, disrupting their Explanation: In ancient India, people built
lives and livelihoods, loss of traditional land stepwells, tanks, canals, and baolis using local
and cultural identity. These criticisms do not knowledge and collective effort to manage
deny the usefulness of dams, but highlight that water effectively. These systems were well-
development must be balanced with ecological adapted to the regional climate and topography,
and social responsibility. showing deep understanding of sustainable
3. Option (D) is correct water use. This reflects that communities actively
Explanation: The success of rooftop rainwater participated in water conservation long before
harvesting in Rajasthan, a state with low modern engineering

ASSERTION-REASON QUESTIONS
1. Option (A) is correct Reason is false because over-irrigation using
Explanation: Assertion is true: This phrase tube wells does not increase the water table—it
was used by Jawaharlal Nehru to highlight actually lowers it by extracting water faster than
the importance of such projects in India’s it can be replenished.
development. 3. Option (A) is correct
Reason is also true. Multipurpose projects serve Explanation: Assertion is true because rainwater
multiple functions like irrigation, hydroelectric harvesting is an eco-friendly and cost-effective
power, water supply, and flood control. method to conserve water.
2. Option (C) is correct Reason is also true, as it directly recharges
Explanation: Assertion is true because groundwater and reduces pressure on rivers,
groundwater levels are falling rapidly in states lakes, and reservoirs.
like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and others due Both assertion and reason are true and reason
to over-extraction. correctly explains the assertion.
 4. Option (C) is correct Reason is false because India does not receive
Explanation: Assertion is true because many uniform rainfall. It is concentrated mainly during
rivers in India, especially in the peninsular region,
are seasonal, and water availability varies widely the monsoon season and is unevenly distributed
due to regional and seasonal rainfall patterns. across regions.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. 
Reason for Water Scarcity: Regions like Problem:

Cherrapunji face water scarcity because rainfall Such projects can cause displacement of people,
is highly seasonal and intense, causing most submergence of forests, and disruption of local
water to run off quickly without being stored ecosystems, leading to loss of biodiversity.
or absorbed. Also, the lack of proper water 4. Khadin system used in Rajasthan.
conservation infrastructure leads to poor
Contribution to Sustainable Use: Khadins collect
groundwater recharge.
and store rainwater in an earthen embankment,
One Solution: Rainwater harvesting can help allowing moisture to seep into the soil, which
by collecting and storing rainwater during the helps in recharging groundwater and supporting
monsoon, which can then be used during dry crops without overusing external water sources.
periods.
5. Social Impact: Displacement of local and tribal
2. Causes:
communities, leading to loss of homes, livelihood,
(i) Excessive use of tube wells for irrigation,
and cultural identity.
especially for water-intensive crops like
paddy. Environmental Impact: Submergence of
(ii)  Free or highly subsidised electricity, forests and wildlife habitats, resulting in loss of
encouraging over-extraction of groundwater. biodiversity and ecological imbalance.
Consequence: Falling water tables, which 6. (i) Uneven and seasonal distribution of rainfall:
lead to drying of wells, increased cost of Most rain falls during a few monsoon
irrigation, and long-term water scarcity. months, leaving many regions dry for the
3. Purposes Served: rest of the year.
(i) Irrigation: Provides water for agricultural (ii) 
Overuse and wastage of water: Excessive
fields across large areas. withdrawal for agriculture, industry, and
(ii) Hydroelectricity Generation: Produces domestic use, often without recycling or
renewable energy by using flowing water. conservation, leads to depletion.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. (i) Seasonal Concentration of Rainfall: Most of (iii) Ecological Imbalance: Dams disrupt natural
India’s rainfall occurs during a few monsoon river systems, affecting flood cycles, sediment
months, leading to dry conditions in the flow, and groundwater recharge, leading to
remaining part of the year. long-term environmental damage.
(ii) Uneven Distribution: Rainfall is not uniform 3. Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting
across regions — while some areas face and storing rainwater for future use, mainly to
floods, others receive very little rain, causing recharge groundwater or for direct consumption
in irrigation and domestic use.
regional water shortages.
Two Traditional Methods:
(iii) Poor Water Management and Storage:
(i) Khadin (Rajasthan): An earthen embankment
Lack of proper infrastructure for rainwater
is built to collect rainwater, which slowly
harvesting, storage, and groundwater
infiltrates into the soil and recharges
recharge leads to inefficient use and wastage
groundwater, supporting agriculture in arid
of rainwater.
regions.
2. (i) Displacement of People: Large dams often (ii) Tankas (Gujarat and Rajasthan):
submerge villages and forests, forcing Underground tanks or cisterns are built
thousands of people, especially tribal to store rainwater collected from rooftops,
communities, to leave their homes and primarily used for drinking and household
livelihoods. purposes.
(ii) Loss of Biodiversity: Submerged forests and 4. (i) Decline in Water Table: Continuous overuse
altered river flows destroy natural habitats, lowers the groundwater level, making it
affecting wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. harder and more expensive to access water.
 (ii) 
Drying of Wells and Borewells: Excessive (ii) Hydroelectric Power Generation: Produces
extraction leads to wells running dry, renewable energy, reducing dependency on
fossil fuels.
especially in summer, affecting irrigation and
Drawback: May cause displacement of people
drinking water supply.
and submergence of forests, leading to social and
(iii) Land Subsidence: In some areas, overuse environmental problems.
of groundwater causes the land to sink, 6. (i) Khadin (Rajasthan): An earthen
damaging buildings, roads, and natural embankment built across a slope to collect
drainage systems. rainwater, allowing it to percolate and
improve soil moisture for crop cultivation.
5. A multipurpose project is a large-scale water
(ii)  Zabo System (Nagaland): A method of
resource development programme designed collecting rainwater on hill slopes and using
to serve multiple purposes like irrigation, it for irrigation and livestock without soil
hydroelectric power generation, water supply, erosion.
flood control, and navigation. (iii) Johads (Haryana and Rajasthan):
Small earthen check dams built to conserve
Benefits:
rainwater and recharge groundwater,
(i) Irrigation Support: Provides water to supported and maintained by local
agricultural fields, boosting food production. communities.

CASE BASED QUESTIONS

1. 
(i) 
Water scarcity in most cases is caused by (2) To move to safe areas such as relief
over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal camps, evacuation centers, or elevated
access to water among different social grounds where shelter can be taken.
groups. (3)  Additionally, individuals should turn
off power and gas connections before
(ii) 
People of Rajasthan have to travel long leaving their houses to prevent potential
distances for collecting water, having a hazards. (Any two)
submersible water tank would solve the 3. (i) Narmada Bachao Andolan
purpose of water. (ii) The big dams have been unsuccessful in
(iii) 
Water conservation is crucial to provide controlling floods at the time of excessive
clean water for humans to sustain life. rainfall because big dams release water from
Conservation of water requires a lot dams during heavy rains aggraved the flood
situation.
concerted efforts from every person in the
world. We can take following steps: (iii) (1) Generation of electricity
(2) Canal for irrigation
(1)  Constructing sophisticated hydraulic
(3) Soil conservation in nearby areas.
structures like dams built of stone
 (Any two)
rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments
4. (i) (1)  It is an inexpensive method of
and canals for irrigation. conservation of water.
(2) Rain water harvesting.  (Any one) (2) Common people can also afford it.
2. (i) 
The family emergency kit should include (3)  Water harvesting techniques are
items such as: environmentally friendly. (Any one)
(1) Portable radio/ transistors (ii) (1)  Rooftop rainwater is collected using a
(2) Torch PVC pipe.
(3) Spare Batteries (2) Filtered using sand and bricks.
(4) First Aid Box (3) Underground pipe takes water to sump
(5) Essential Medicines (such as ORS) for immediate usage.
(6) Essential Foods (dry food items, drinking (4) Excess water from the sump is taken to
water) the well.
(7) Matchboxes, Candles and other essential (5)  Water from the well recharge the
supplies.  (Any two) underground.
(ii) These items are crucial to ensuring survival (6) Take water from the well.
and maintaining basic necessities during (iii) (1) Hydraulic structures.
flood situations. (2)  In hilly regions/people-built diversion
(iii) (1) It is recommended to move to safe areas channels like the guls or kuls for
along with your family members. agriculture.
 (3)  Roof-top rainwater harvesting was (3) They can be stored as drinking water
practised in Rajasthan. particularly in Rajasthan.
(4)  In the flood plains of Bengal people (4) Rainwater harvesting is used to maintain
developed inundation channels to water in tanks.
irrigate their fields. (5) Rainwater harvesting is used to maintain
(5) Khadins, Johads and Tanks are the forms room temperature through tanks and
of rainwater harvesting practised in ducting.  (Any two)
Rajasthan. (Any two) 6. (i) Women collected and stored water by
5. (i) (1) Inundation channels of Bengal. balancing many ‘matkas’ (earthen pots) and
(2) Khadins of Rajasthan. travelling long distances to get water.
(3) Johads of Rajasthan  (Any two) (ii) Water scarcity is caused due to the variations
(ii) (1) They have arranged underground tanks in seasonal and annual precipitation, but
or tankas for storing water. water scarcity in most cases is caused by
(2) They have a well developed roof top over- exploitation, excessive use and unequal
rainwater harvesting system (palarpani) access to water among different social
and were built inside the main house or groups.
courtyard. (iii) Yes, rain water harvesting can help as
(3) It is a reliable source of drinking water. agricultural fields were converted into rain
(4) It beats the summer heat as it would fed storage structures that allowed the
keep the room cool. (Any one) water to stand and moisten the soil like
(iii) (1) Rainwater harvesting is used to meet the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in
peoples and regions water needs. other parts of Rajasthan. ‘Rooftop rainwater
(2)  Rain water can be used by building harvesting’ was commonly practised to store
diversion channels used for agriculture. drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. (i)  Overuse of Water Resources: Excessive simultaneously, such as irrigation, flood control,
withdrawal of water for agriculture hydroelectric power generation, water supply
(especially for water-intensive crops like for domestic and industrial use, and inland
paddy and sugarcane), industries, and navigation and recreation
domestic use leads to depletion. Benefits:

(ii)  Uneven and Seasonal Distribution of Irrigation Support: They provide a reliable
(i) 
Rainfall: Most rainfall occurs during a few water source for agriculture, increasing crop
monsoon months, causing water shortages yields and reducing dependence on rainfall.
in non-monsoon periods and in arid regions.
Electricity Generation: Hydroelectric power
(ii) 
(iii) Groundwater Depletion: Over-extraction
stations built on dams generate clean and
through tube wells, particularly in states like
renewable energy.
Punjab and Haryana, lowers water tables.
(iii) Flood Control: Dams regulate river flow and
(iv) Water Pollution: Discharge of untreated
help prevent floods in downstream areas.
industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals
into rivers and lakes makes water unfit for Water Storage and Supply: They ensure
(iv) 
consumption. year-round water availability for domestic
(v)  Poor Water Management and Wastage: and industrial purposes.
Inefficient irrigation techniques, leakages in Employment and Development: These
(v) 
pipelines, and lack of rainwater harvesting projects create jobs and contribute to regional
contribute to wastage and scarcity. economic development.
Long-Term Solution: Two Social or Environmental Concerns:

Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting and Displacement
(i)  of People: Large-scale
Sustainable Water Management Practices: This construction often leads to the forced
includes rooftop harvesting, building check dams, relocation of thousands, especially tribal and
reusing wastewater, and educating communities rural communities, disrupting their lives and
to use water wisely. livelihoods.
2. Objectives of Multipurpose River Valley Ecological Impact: Submergence of forests,
(ii) 
Projects: biodiversity loss, and changes in river
Multipurpose river valley projects are designed ecosystems affect wildlife and natural
to manage water resources for multiple uses habitats.
 3. (i) Khadin (Rajasthan): An earthen embankment 4. (i) Rainwater Harvesting (Individual/
is constructed to harvest surface runoff, Community Level): Installing rooftop
which slowly seeps into the soil and helps rainwater harvesting systems in homes and
retain moisture for crop cultivation. institutions helps recharge groundwater and
(ii)  Zabo System (Nagaland): A unique hill- reduce reliance on external sources.
based method that collects rainwater from (ii)  Promoting Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation
hilltops and uses it for irrigation, livestock, (Government/Farmer Level): These modern
and domestic use without causing soil irrigation techniques minimise water
erosion. wastage and are ideal for water-scarce areas.
Tankas
(iii)  (Gujarat and Rajasthan): Recycling and Reusing Water (Individual/
(iii) 
Underground tanks built to store rooftop Urban Planning): Treated wastewater from
rainwater, especially in arid areas, for households and industries can be reused for
drinking and household use during dry gardening, flushing, and industrial cooling.
months. (iv) Spreading Awareness and Education
(iv) Johads (Haryana and Rajasthan): Small (Community Level): Conducting campaigns
earthen check dams built by villagers to to educate people about responsible water
conserve rainwater, recharge groundwater, use, leak repair, and daily water-saving
and restore wells and ponds. habits.
(v)  Kuls (Himachal Pradesh): Channels dug out (v)  Strengthening Water Policies and
on the hillsides to divert glacial meltwater Enforcement (Government Level):
to village fields for irrigation, maintained by Implementing strict laws to regulate over-
local communities. extraction of groundwater and ensuring
proper maintenance of water bodies.