HIRANANDANI FOUNDATION SCHOOL, THANE

GEOGRAPHY
WATER RESOURCES
STD X
I. Short Answer Questions:
1. Rivers, lakes, ponds and tanks.

2. India experiences scarcity of water because:

• Rainfall in India occurs mostly in short spells of high intensity and because of
which most of the rain falling on the surface tends to flow away rapidly, leaving
very little for the recharge of groundwater. This makes most parts of India
experience lack of water even for domestic use.
• A large amount of surface water is polluted by domestic and industrial usage,
seepage of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture, thus making it
hazardous for plant and animal use.
• Ever increasing population requires more water not only for drinking and
domestic use but also for producing more food. Hence the increasing demand for
irrigation to grow more food as well as rapid industrialization exert pressure on
our existing water resources.

3. (i) Water harvesting is the technique of conserving and collecting rainwater for
reuse or recharge it into the ground to improve groundwater storage in the
aquifer. It is the simplest and most efficient method of water conservation.
(ii) Water harvesting systems practicing in India are
• rainwater harvesting technique is the storage tank kept underground and
connected to the pipe coming down from the roof. The rain water enters
the tank through a filter which removes leaves and other debris. The
system contains a pump which pushes or sucks the rain water back into the
house which is then delivered to the garden, washing clothes, etc.
• the simplest rain water harvesting technique is the check dam. It is a small
barrier built across streams. They store water during the rainy season
which can then be used for irrigation.
• Another rain water collection system is the Garden Watersaver diverter
(GWS). It is a downspout rainwater diverter which simplifies the
collection of rain water.

4. The reasons for water harvesting:-

• To arrest groundwater decline and augment groundwater table.
• To beneficiate water quality in aquifers.
• To conserve surface water runoff during monsoonal rainy season
• To reduce soil erosion.
• To inculcate a culture of water conservation.
• To avoid flooding of roads.
• To reduce groundwater pollution in an environment-friendly manner.
• To meet increasing demand for water.
• To supplement household requirement of water during the hot summers.

5. About 92%

6. Irrigation refers to the process of watering of agricultural plants or crops through

artificial means from wells, tanks, tubewells, canals, etc.

7. Based on the availability of surface (river) and groundwater, relief, soils and
climatic conditions, we need to adopt different means of irrigation.

8. Based on the availability of surface (river) and groundwater, relief, soils and
climatic conditions, we need to adopt different means of irrigation.

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 9. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

10. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The importance of tubewell irrigation refer to the advantages given on page no.
135.

11. Persian wheel is a partly submerged vertical wheel with buckets attached to the
rim. As the wheel is turned by draught animals rotating a geared horizontal wheel,
the buckets are filled and emptied into a trough above, which carries the water to
crop-sown fields.

12. Refer to the textbook page no. 134.

13. Advantages:-
Tube well irrigation is a perennial means of irrigation as it is drilled up to
permanent water table but surface wells may dry up due to over-withdrawal of the
groundwater and lowering of the water table.
Tube well can irrigate large areas of agricultural land in compare to surface wells.
Disadvantage:-
Tube well is expensive as it requires continuous supply of electricity but surface
wells can be dug at very low cost, moreover oxen are used for drawing water from
the wells at no extra cost to the farmers.

14. Perennial canals and seasonal or inundation canals.

15. Refer to the textbook page no. 135.

16. In compare to inundation canals perennial canals irrigate large areas. Inundation
canal remain operational only during rainy season when the rivers are in flood
but perennial canals can draw water throughout the year from perennial rivers.

17. Tanks are mostly used in the Deccan Plateau region.

Refer to your textbook page no. 136

18. Refer to the textbook page no. 137.

19. Refer to the textbook page no. 137.

20. Furrow irrigation / spray irrigation / drip irrigation / sprinkler irrigation.

III. Structured Questions:-

1. (a) Refer to the textbook page no. 128.

(b) Rainwater harvesting, adopting water saving technologies, encouraging
watershed development, water recycling and preventing the pollution of
water.
(c) Watershed management refers to the efficient management and conservation
of both the surface and groundwater resources.
It prevents surface runoff and at the same time encourages recharge of
groundwater which ensures water supply in future.
(d) The objectives of rainwater harvesting are:
To meet the increasing demands of water.
To conserve surface water runoff during rainy season
To avoid flooding of roads
To raise the underground water table and improve the water quality in
aquifers.
To reduce groundwater pollution.
To reduce soil erosion.
To supplement domestic water needs.

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 2. (a) Irrigation is needed for agricultural development because:
India grows both Kharif (summer) and Rabi (winter) crops. Winter is a dry
period in India, except a few areas. Thus, irrigation is necessary to grow Rabi
crops.
Some crops require more water, such as rice, jute, etc. Thus irrigation is
necessary.
One of the features of the Green Revolution is the development of irrigation
for the cultivation of high yielding and quick maturing crops.
To increase the net sown area, agriculture can be introduced in the semi-arid
land and therefore, irrigation is must.
(b) Well, tank and inundation canals.
(c) Refer to answer I – 19.
(d) Refer to the textbook page no. 138

3. (a) Alluvial plains have soft soil, so wells can be easily dug moreover there is
plenty of underground water as the soil is porous.
(b) Refer to answer I - 9
(c) Refer to the textbook page no. 134.
(d) Refer to the textbook page no. 135.

4. (a) Refer to the textbook page no. 135.

(b) Refer to the answer I – 16.
(c) Advantages:-
• Most of the canal provide perennial irrigation and supply water as and then
needed. This saves the crops from drought conditions and helps in
increasing the farm production.
• Canals carry a lot of sediment brought down by the rivers. This sediment is
deposited in the agricultural fields which adds to the fertility of soil.
• Some of canals are parts of multipurpose projects and, therefore, provide
cheap source of irrigation.
• Although the initial cost involved in canal irrigation is much higher, it is
quite cheap in the long run.
(d) Disadvantages:-
• The canal water soaks into the ground and leads to the problem of water-
logging along the canal route.
• Excessive flow of water in the fields raises the groundwater level. Capillary
action brings alkaline salts to the surface and makes large areas unfit for
agriculture.
• The marshy areas near the canals act as breeding grounds of mosquitoes
which result in widespread malaria.
• Many canals over flow during rainy season and flood the surrounding areas.

5. (a) Tank irrigation is done by constructing earthen or masonry walls across a

stream or depression. Rainwater during the rainy season collects here and it is
then used whenever needed, especially in the dry season.
(b) Refer to the answer I – 17.
(c) Refer to the textbook page no. 136.
In India tank irrigation is extensively practiced in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
and Tamil Nadu.
(d) Refer to the textbook page no. 137.
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