WATER SCARCITY AND THE NEED FOR WATER

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Key Concepts of the lesson

Roof top rainwater harvesting,
objectives of Rainwater harvesting,
Meaning of multipurpose river valley project,
Causes of social movements for some dames,
Bamboo drip Irrigation System,
Khadins & Johads,
Guls & Kuls,
major sources of irrigation in India,
Conserve of water resources.
Locating and Labeling ; Dams: (1) Salal; (2) Bhakra Nangal; (3) Tehri; (4)
Rana Pratap Sagar; (5) Sardar Sarovar; (6) Hirakud; (7) Nagarjuna Sagar and
(8) Tungabhadra

MCQ Q.1 The total volume of the worlds water is estimated to exist as ocean:
(a) 75.5%
(c) 95.5%

(b) 85.5%
(d) 65.5%

Q.2 Roof top rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in(a) Shillong
(c) Imphal

(b) Guwahati
(d) Patna

Q.3 On which river has Nagarjun Sager Dam been constructed?

(a) River Coyana

(b) River Krishna

(c) River Godavari

(d) river Tapti

Q.4 How much %of the Earths Surface is covered with water?
(a) About 70%
(c) About 60%

(b) About 90%

(d) None of these

Q.5 What is the rank of India in the world countries in the terms of Water availability
per person p.a.?
(a) 129th

(b) 130 th

(c) 131st

(d) 133rd

Q.6 It is predicated that nearly 2 billion people will live in absolute water scarcity in
the year of
(a) 2015

(b) 2020

(c) 2025

(d) 2030

Q.7 The first & the only state in India which has made Roof Top Rain water
Harvesting Structured compulsory to all the across the state is
(a) Karnataka
(c) Kerala

(b) Tamil Nadu

(d) none of these

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How can rainwater be harvested? Explain. (Four points)

Ans : Rainwater can be harvested in the following ways :(any four points) i) By digging ponds
and tanks. ii) By building embankments and check dams. iii) By making arrangements for
storage of rainwater on rooftops. iv) By constructing concrete underground reservoirs. v) By
constructing reservoirs in park and public places and covering them with concrete slabs. vi)
Building plans should invariably be made only when there is a provision for water harvesting.
2. . Is irrigation necessary in India? If yes, why?
Answer : Agriculture is the main occupation of Indian. Rain is concentrated only from June to
September.The rainfall is not certain.This affects crops badly. Thus timely and adequate
irrigation in necessary for the productivity and quality of crops.
3. State two areas where canal irrigation has developed lot of net sown area under
irrigation?
Answer : (i) Northern area (ii) Coastal plains.
4. What is a river valley project?
Answer : It is a multipurpose river valley project meant to tackle various problems associated
with river valleys in an integrated manner.For example:- flood control, irrigation,
hydroelectricity, etc.
5. State the names of states of India where 40% of net sown area are under irrigation?
Answer : The states hving over 40% of net sown area under irrigation are:(i) Punjab (ii) Haryana (iii) Uttar Pradesh (iv) Bihar (v) Jammu and Kashmir (vi) Tamil Nadu
(vii) Manipur
6. What do you mean by watershed development?

Answer : The watershed is a basin of a tributary and the watershed development is the integrated
development of small natural unit area.This is a holistic approach which includes moisture
conservation, water harvesting, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, etc.
7. What do you mean by rainwater harvesting?
Answer : It is a technique of increasing the recharge of ground water by capturing and collecting
rain water to meet the household needs through storage in tanks.
8. What are the plans taken into consideration for watershed development?
Answer : The plans taken into consideration are:(i) The Land Capability.
(ii) The Need of The People.
(iii) The Participation of The Local People.
9. What are the two basic needs of life?
Answer : (i) Supply of drinking water (ii) Sanitation
10. There is a yawning gap between demand and supply of water. Why?
Answer : There is a yawning gap between demand and supply of water because 8% of the town
in India do not have potable water supply. Nearly 50% of the villages are yet to be provided with
protected drinking water.
11. State the causes of growing scarcity of water?
Answer : Causes of growing scarcity of water are:(i) Rapidly growing population.
(ii) Rising demand for food and cash crop.
(iii) Increasing urbanization.
(iv) Rising standard of living.
12. State the names of states where tank irrigation is common?
Answer : Tank irrigation is common in the following states:(i) Andhra Pradesh
(ii) Karnataka
(iii) Tamil Nadu.
13 State the major resources of irrigation. Which of them is most widespread?
Answer : The major resources of irrigation are:-(i) Canals
(ii) Wells and Tube-wells
(iii) Tanks.
Wells and Tube-wells are the most widespread sources.

14. State the names of intensely irrigated area in India?

Answer : There is a wide variation in irrigated areas within each state.The intensely irrigated
areas are:(i) The Godavari-Krishna delta,
(ii) Coastal district of Andhra Pradesh,
(iii) Mahanadi delta of Orissa,
(iv) Cauvery delta of Tamil Nadu,
(v) Pujab,
(vi) Haryana,
(vii) Western Uttar Pradesh.
15. What percentage of water is used for irrigation? Why?
Answer : For Irrigation 84% of water is used because agriculture is the main occupation in India
and rainfall is not sufficient.
16. Why are the Himalayan rivers perennial? Why are peninsular rivers seasonal?
Answer : Himalayan rivers have their source in the glaciers and snow fields. Hence they are
perennial. For example Ganga from Gangotri glacier and Yamuna from Yamunotri glacier.The
rivers are seasonal as they depends entirely on monsoonrains. For example Godavari, Narmada,
Krishna, Cauveri, etc.
17. What is the objectives of Multipurpose River Valley Projects. Give examples?
Answer : The objectives of Multipurpose River Valley Project are:(i) to control flood
(ii) to check soil erosion
(iii) to provide water for irrigation
(iv) to provide water for drinking
(v) to generate electricity
(vi) to provide inland navigation
(vii) to encourage tourism and recreaction
(viii) to preserve wildlife
(ix) to develop fisheries, etc
Example : - Bhakhra Nangal, Hirakund, Kosi, Chambal, etc.
18. Availability of water varies from place to place and time to time in India. Explain the
statement with one example of each?
Answer : Water is essential for life. It is considered as pre-condition of life. It is very critical and
important resource of India. The monsoon rainfall throughout the country is essential. Delhi and
jodhpur receive rainfall for two to three months while Thiruvanathapuram for eight to nine
months.

19. Differentiate between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers?

Answer :
Himalayan Rivers

Peninsular Rivers

(i) The rivers have their sources in

glaciers and snow fields.

(i) The source of rivers is not fixed.

It depends on monsoon rain.

(ii) The rivers are perennial.

(ii) The rivers are seasonal.

(iii) The rivers are used for

(iii) The rivers are useful only in the
irrigation, navigation and generating lower course.
hydroelectricity.
(iv) The rivers flow through deep
valleys. e.g. Ganga, Yamuna.

(iv) The rivers flow through broad

shallow valleys. e.g. Godavari.

20. Name any two multipurpose river valley projects or dams which are causes of new
social movements. Why did people oppose them?
Ans : Two Multipurpose project which are caused social movements
(a) Narmada Bachao Andolan
(b) Tehri-Dam Andolan
(c) Sardar Sarover Dam
-Large scale displacement of local communities
-Environment issues
-Demand for Rehabilitation facilities from Govt.
21. Explain in brief
(a)Khadins & Johads People built division channels from rivers for irrigation to their
field in western Himalaya is called Guls or kuls
(b) Guls & Kuls

People developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields were converted into rain
storage structure in particularly western Rajasthan Jaisalmer called Khadins and
Johads in other parts of its state.