5.

Water Resources
(A) 3/4th of the earth's surface is covered with water.
(B) Fresh water is obtained from surface runoff and groundwater water.
(C) Water is continuously renewed and recharged through hydrological cycle.
(D) Water scarcity and the need for water conservation and management :
1. Water scarcity:- availability of water less than required is called as water scarcity.
2. According to Falcon mark a swedish expert, water stress occurs when water availability is
between 1000 and 1600 cubic metre per person per year.
Q1: Why does the availability of water vary from region to region ?
A: 1. The availability of water resources varies over space and time mainly due to variations in
seasonal and annual precipitation.
2. Over exploitation.
3. Excessive use due to urban lifestyle.
4. Unequal access to water resources.
(E) Factors causing water scarcity:-
1.Large and growing population- More population increases the demand for water for different
activities also increases.
2. Variation in seasonal annual precipitation.
3. Industrialisation and urbanisation :- (a) Industries demand more water for producing the
goods and more electricity to run the machines.
(b) Urban lifestyle demands more water and energy.
(c) Many water bodies are polluted due to discharge of domestic waste, industrial waste and
use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture.
4. It is possible that an area or region may have enough water resources but still face water
scarcity.
5. Meaning of our cities face this problem due to large and overgrowing population,
industrialisation, urbanization and unequal access to water.
We need to conserve and manage water.
Q2:- Why should we conserve and manage water resources ?
A:- 1. To safeguard ourselves from health hazards.
2. To ensure food security.
3. For continuation of our livelihood and productive activities.
4. To prevent the degradation of our environment.
(F) Multipurpose projects and integrated water resource management:-
1. Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times we have been
constructing sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams built of stone rubble, reservoirs or
lakes embankments and canals for irrigation. Ex- Hydraulic structures in ancient India.
2. In the first century BC, Sringaverapura near Allahabad had sophisticated water harvesting
system channeling the flood water of the river Ganga.
3. During the time of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were
extensively built.
4. Evidences of sophisticated irrigation works have also been found in Kalinga,
Nagarjunakonda, Bennur, Kolhapur etc.
5. In the 11th century, Bhopal lake, one of the largest artificial lakes of its time was built.
6. In the 14th century, the tank in Houz Khas, Delhi was constructed by iltutmish for supplying
water to Siri fort area.
7. In modern times, dams have been built to impound rivers and rain water that could be used
later for irrigation.
Q3:- Today, why dams are called multipurpose river valley projects ?
A:- Today dams are called multipurpose river valley projects, as the serve many purposes at a
time like-
1. Irrigation
2. Electricity generation
3. Water for industrial and domestic use
4. Flood control
5. Recreation
6. Fish breeding
7. Inland navigation etc.
8. Ex- Hirakund on Mahanadi in Orissa, Bhakra-Nangal on Satluj and Beas river.
Q4:- Who called multipurpose dams as "Temples of modern India" and why ?
A:- 1. Jawaharlal Nehru called them as "Temples of modern India".
2.He thought that these were the vehicles that would lead the nation to development and
progress.
3. It would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid
industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
Q5:-In recent years, multipurpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and
opposition. Justify.
A:- 1. Regulating and damming the rivers affect their natural flow causing poor sediment flow
and excessive sedimentation bottom of the reservoir resulting in the rockier stream beds and
poorer habitats for the rivers aquatic life.
2. Multipurpose projects and large dams have also been the cause of many new social
movements like the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
3. It leads to large-scale displacement of local communities.
4. Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to
water intensive and commercial crops.
5. It has transform the social landscape
i.e; increasing the social gap between the richer land owners and landless poor.
6. Inter-state water disputes are also becoming common with regard to sharing the costs and
benefits of the multipurpose project.
Q6:-Why did people oppose multipurpose projects ?
A:- 1. Most of the objections to the project arose due to their failure to achieve the purposes for
which they were built.
2. The dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods, due to
sedimentations in the reservoirs.
3. The floods have not only devastated life and property but also caused extensive soil erosion.
4. It was also observed that the multipurpose projects induced earthquakes, caused water-born
diseases and pests and pollution resulting from excessive use of water.
(G) Rainwater harvesting-
1. It is the technique to recharge the groundwater by collecting and harvesting the rainwater
through percolation pits.
2. Since ancient times, India had a tradition of rainwater harvesting system depending on the
rainfall and the soil type.
3. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the 'guls: or 'kuls' of the
Western Himalayas for agriculture.
4. Rooftop rainwater harvesting was commonly practiced to store drinking water, particularly in
Rajasthan.
5. In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation (filled with water) channels to
irrigate there field.
6. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage
structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soils like the 'khadins' in Jaisalmer
and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.
7. In the semi arrived and arid regions of Rajasthan particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and
Barmer, almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking
water.
8. Rainwater of Palar Pani , as commonly referred to in these parts is considered to be the
purest form of natural water.
9. Today in Western Rajasthan, sadly the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting is on the
decline, as plenty of water is available, due to the Perennial Rajasthan canal ( Indira Gandhi
canal ).