WATER RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
Water scarcity is possibly to pose the greatest challenge on account of its increased
demand coupled with shrinking supplies due to over utilisation and pollution
71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water
Freshwater constitutes only about 3% of the total water
Due to water scarcity there is dispute and tension among countries or states.
Downstream accuses upstream that they don’t provide water
Eg: Indus water treaty, brahmaputra clash between Bangladesh and india
WATER RESOURCES IN INDIA
2.45% of the world’s surface area (In total land area India covers 2.45% of water)
4% of the world’s water resources
More than 17 per cent of the world’s population
The total water available from precipitation in the country in a year is about 4,000
cubic km
The availability from surface water and replenishable groundwater is 1,869 cubic km
the total utilisable water resource in the country is only 1,122 cubic km
only 60% can be put to beneficial uses
Types of water resource
1. Surface water resource
2. Lagoons and backwater
3. Ground water resource
SURFACE WATER RESOURCES
Four major sources of surface water
1. River
2. Lake
3. Ponds
4. Tanks
Only about 690 cubic km (32 per cent) of the available surface water can be utilised
Reason why less amount of surface water is utilised
1. Topographical = Difficulty to construct dam or reservoir
2. Hydrological = Rain doesn’t happen every reason
3. Climate = Influence the process of precipitation
Melting of glacier and rain is important for the flow of river
Water flow in a river depends on size of its catchment area (the larger catchment area
the better water flow)
Catchment area: A catchment area is the region from which rainfall flows into a river,
lake, or reservoir. It’s also called a drainage basin
North to South Southern River flow: Mahanadi < Godavari < Krishna < Kaveri
GROUND WATER RESOURCES
The total replenishable groundwater resources in the country are about 432 cubic km
Water in between the rocks are called Groundwater
GROUND WATER UTILISATION
High level Punjab, Haryana: They aren’t rainfed areas, agriculture
happens with the help of irrigation. Here Green
revolution was introduced
Rajasthan: Less availability of surface water
Tamil Nadu: Rain occurs during the winter season
Low level (a small Chhattisgarh
proportion of their Odisha (Availability of lagoons)
groundwater potentials) Kerala, etc (Availability of lagoons)
LAGOONS
Lagoons are shallow bodies of water separated from a larger body of water (like the
sea or ocean) by a barrier
Barriers:
1. A sandbar
2. A coral reef
3. A barrier Island
Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal have surface water in the form of lagoons and lakes
Lagoon’s water is brackish (Little salty)
This water is able to tolerate rice (paddy cultivation) and coconut as well as used for
fishing
In Kerala lagoons are called Backwaters
WATER DEMAND AND UTILISATION
Planning commission firstly focused on agriculture as well as development of
irrigation
Multipurpose river valleys projects
1. Bhakra-Nangal
2. Hirakud
3. Damodar Valley
4. Nagarjuna Sagar
5. Indira Gandhi Canal Project
SECTORAL UTILISATION
Agriculture 89% surface water 92% groundwater
Industrial sector 2% surface water 5% groundwater
Domestic purpose 9% surface water
DEMAND OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION
Irrigation is needed because of spatio-temporal variability in rainfall in the country
In India, the need for irrigation is significant due to irregularity of rainfall in both time
and space
Some areas are deficient in rainfall while some are drought prone
Irrigation is critical for:
1. Growing multiple crops
2. Increasing agricultural productivity
3. Achieving higher yield in shorter period of time
4. Growing water intensive crops
Punjab, Haryana and Western U.P have over 85% of their cultivated area under
irrigation
Wells and tubewells help in irrigation in Punjab and Haryana
In Punjab 76% of the net irrigated area is covered by Wells and Tubewells while
Haryana is 51.3%
In Rajasthan and Maharashtra excessive groundwater withdrawal has resulted in an
increase in Fluoride concentration
Similarly in West Bengal and Bihar increase in concentration of arsenic
PRADHAN MANTRI KRISHI SINCHAYEE YOJANA (PMKSY)
Under ministry of Jal Shakti
Introduced in 2015 – 16
Major aim is protective irrigation
Objective:
1. Rural prosperity
2. Irrigation of water resources (Har khet of paani pauchao)
3. Use of water saving technology
4. Reduce the wastage of water
5. Use of water efficiently
6. Per drop more crop (Kam paani se zayda crop nikalna)
7. Sustainable methods
8. Integrated development of rainfed areas (Watershed/ soil conservation)
Launched by the Central Government
ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA
Launched in 2019 under Jal Jiwan Mission
Focused more on Groundwater
implemented in 8220 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 administrative blocks/
talukas in 80 districts of seven states
1. Gujarat
2. Haryana
3. Karnataka
4. Madhya Pradesh
5. Maharashtra
6. Rajasthan
7. Uttar Pradesh
EMERGING WATER PROBLEMS
The per capita availability of water is dwindling day-by-day due to increase in
population
Reduction in water quality due to pollution
Due to pollution the unwanted substances are added in the water increasing the
concentration of microorganism and making the water unfit for use
WATER CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT METHOD
1. 3R’s policy (Reuse, reduce, recycle water)
2. Watershed development
3. Rainwater harvesting
4. Conjunctive use of water: combined and coordinated use of surface water and
groundwater resources to meet water demands in an efficient and sustainable way
(Surface water and groundwater used with balance)
PREVENTION OF WATER POLLUTION
The major rivers of the country generally retain better water quality in less densely
populated upper stretches in hilly areas
In plains, river water is used intensively for irrigation, drinking, domestic and
industrial purposes
The concentration of pollutants in rivers, especially remains very high during the
summer season when flow of water is low (because of low flow, the pollutants are
stick together and increasing the concentration of waste)
In 1997, 251 polluting industries were located along the rivers and lakes
ACT
1974 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
= Under this CPCB is formed
= The CPCB (Central pollution control board) collaborates with
State pollution control board and monitors water quality
= 507 stations
1977 The water case act
1986 Environment Protection Act
= Introduced after Bhopal gas tragedy
RIVER AND POLLUTION
Yamuna (Most polluted) Delhi
Etawah
Sabarmati Ahmedabad
Gomati river Lucknow
Kali, the Adyar, the Cooum the Tamil Nadu
Vaiga The Musi of Hyderabad
Ganga Kanpur and Varanasi stretch
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
Refers to efficient management and conservation of surface and ground water
resources
Prevention of runoff, store and recharge groundwater
It aims to bring balance between natural resources and human society
Community participation is very necessary to make this successful
percolation well = A percolation well is a deep hole dug to allow rainwater to
seep into the ground, helping recharge groundwater
Check dams = Check dams are small barriers built across streams or rivers to
slow down water flow
Recharge wells = refilling of underground water (aquifers) by allowing water to
soak into the ground
PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES (Important)
Haryali Scheme Aim: Enables rural population to conserve water for drinking,
irrigation, fisheries and afforestation
Sponsored by Central government
Executed by Gram panchayats with people’s participation
Neeru Meeru Watershed program in Andhra Pradesh
Translates into: Water & You
Arvary Pani Sansad Programme in Alwar, Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu Water harvesting structure in every house is compulsory
RAINWATER HARVESTING
It is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, land surface
or rock catchment using simple techniques
Aim: To recharge groundwater
Importance
1. Prevents water logging on roads
2. Increase the demand of water
3. Slow down soil erosion
4. Reduction in harmful contaminants
5. Salt water inclusion will be prevented
6. Decreases community dependence on groundwater
Kund / Tanka (Covered underground tank) = Rajasthan
Inter-linking of rivers = demerits like Displacement of People, Environmental
Damage, high cost etc
Pricing of water is the biggest problem specially in cities
INDIA’S NATIONAL WATER POLICY
Launched in 2012
Objective:
National water framework for the whole country
Manage interstate rivers
After domestic use of water, treat water as an economic good (pricing will help
not to waste water)
Adaption in the view of climate change
Water footprints: total amount of freshwater used (directly and indirectly) by an
individual, community, industry, or country
Reduce the disparity between rural and urban areas
Community participation
JAL KRANTI ABHIYAN
Launched in 2015-16
Aim: To ensure water security through per capita availability of water in the
country
Include local bodies, NGOs, people etc
Activities proposed under this:
1. Selection of one water stressed village (availability of water is very less) in
each 672 districts of the country to create Jal Gram
2. Create a model command area, make this area ideal by doing development
Eg: UP, Haryana (North), Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu (South),
Rajasthan, Gujarat (West), Odisha (East), Meghalaya (North-East)
3. Abatement (reduction) of pollution
4. Mass awareness
