Water Resources – Important Questions & Answers
Q1. How are traditional rainwater harvesting methods being carried out to conserve water resources
in different regions? Explain with examples.
Ans: Traditional rainwater harvesting methods are practiced across India to conserve water:
• In hilly regions like the Western Himalayas, people build diversion channels called guls or kuls
for agriculture.
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting is common in Rajasthan to store drinking water in underground
tanks called tankas.
• In the floodplains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields.
• In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain-fed storage structures.
Examples include Khadins in Jaisalmer and Johads in other parts of Rajasthan.
Q2. "Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times we have been constructing
sophisticated hydraulic structures in India." Substantiate the statement by giving three pieces of
evidence.
Ans: Archaeological and historical records show India’s long history of building advanced hydraulic
structures:
• In the 1st century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad had a sophisticated water harvesting
system that channelized the floodwaters of the Ganga river.
• During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, extensive dams, lakes, and irrigation systems were
built.
• Evidence of sophisticated irrigation works has been found in Kalinga, Nagarjunakonda, Bennur,
and Kolhapur. The Bhopal Lake (11th century) and the Hauz Khas tank in Delhi (14th century) are
other prime examples.
Q3. "Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population in India." Analyse the
statement.
Ans: Water scarcity in India is aggravated by its large and growing population:
• A growing population creates greater demand for water, not just for domestic use but also for
food production.
• Densely populated urban areas lead to over-exploitation of groundwater, causing a significant
drop in water tables.
• Industries demand large amounts of water and contribute to pollution, further straining
freshwater resources.
Q4. "Multi-purpose projects and large dams have been the cause of many new social movements."
Highlight the concerns related to such movements.
Ans: Resistance to large dams and multi-purpose projects, such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan and
the Tehri Dam Andolan, arises from several concerns:
• They cause large-scale displacement of local communities, often without adequate
compensation or rehabilitation.
• The benefits of these projects often do not reach the local people, raising the question of who
truly benefits.
• The availability of irrigation water encourages farmers to shift to water-intensive commercial
crops, leading to ecological issues like salinization of the soil.
• These projects have transformed the social landscape by widening the gap between richer
landowners and the landless poor.
Q5. "Urbanisation has added to water scarcity." Support the statement with arguments.
Ans: Urbanisation worsens water scarcity in India in the following ways:
• There is increased water demand for domestic use in densely populated urban centers.
• Housing societies and colonies often over-exploit groundwater by using private tubewells.
• Industries concentrated in urban areas consume large amounts of water and pollute available
water sources.
Q6. "Water harvesting system is an effective measure to reduce the problem of water scarcity."
Justify the statement.
Ans: A significant amount of rainwater is wasted as it drains away. Water harvesting systems capture
this water, making it available for later use and recharging groundwater. Examples include:
• Guls or Kuls in the Western Himalayas.
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan, where water is stored in tankas.
• Khadins in Jaisalmer and Johads in other parts of Rajasthan.
• Inundation channels in West Bengal.
• Even in Meghalaya, which receives heavy rainfall, rainwater harvesting is widely practiced.
Q7. "Water scarcity in most cases is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to
water among different social groups." Explain with examples.
Ans: Water scarcity is often a result of mismanagement and inequality:
• Over-exploitation: Widespread use of tubewells for irrigation and industries depletes
groundwater faster than recharge.
• Excessive use: In urban areas, water is often wasted and recycling systems are inadequate.
• Unequal access: Affluent communities enjoy regular water supply, while the poor in slums or
rural areas face severe shortages.
Q8. What is rainwater harvesting? Or How is rainwater harvesting carried out in semi-arid regions of
Rajasthan? Explain.
Ans:
(a) Rainwater harvesting is the technique of capturing and storing rainwater to recharge groundwater.
Structures like dug wells, percolation pits, and check dams are used.
(b) In semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, it is carried out in the following ways:
• Agricultural fields are converted into rain-fed storage structures like Khadins in Jaisalmer and
Johads in other parts of Rajasthan.
• In regions like Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer, almost all houses traditionally had underground
tanks (tankas) for storing drinking water collected from rooftops.
Q9. Why did Jawaharlal Nehru proclaim the dams as the "temples of modern India"? Explain any
three reasons.
Ans: Nehru proclaimed dams as the "temples of modern India" because they were symbols of progress
and development. Reasons include:
• Providing water for agriculture through irrigation.
• Generating hydroelectricity for homes and industries.
• Ensuring a steady water supply for domestic and industrial use.
• Controlling floods, thereby protecting lives and property.
Location of Major Dams
• Salal Dam: Chenab River
• Bhakra Nangal Dam: Sutlej River
• Tehri Dam: Bhagirathi River
• Rana Pratap Sagar Dam: Chambal River
• Sardar Sarovar Dam: Narmada River
• Hirakud Dam: Mahanadi River
• Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Krishna River
• Tungabhadra Dam: Tungabhadra River
