Ch-3 Water Resources (Geography)
1. Water scarcity and the need for water conservation and management
What is the capacity means non availability of water. It is an outcome of large and
growing population and consequent water demands and unequal excess.
96.5% of the total volume of world's water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5%
as fresh water.
About 70% of the freshwater occurs as IC and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and the
mountainous regions of the world.
Only 30% of freshwater is stored as groundwater in the worlds aquifers.
The total renewable water resources of India are estimated at 1897 square kilometre
per annum.
The availability of water resources varies over space in time, mainly due to the variations
in seasonal and annual precipitation.
Hydrological cycle is also known as the water cycle, it is continuous movement of water
on, above and below the surface of the earth.
Water scarcity may be outcome of large and growing population and consequent
greater demands for water and unequal access to it.
In India, hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22% of the total electricity
produced.
Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times we have been
building sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams built of stone rubble, Reservoir or
lakes, embankment and canals for irrigation.
Conserve and manage water resource is the need of the day.
Questions can be asked:-
1. Define water cycle.
2. How much part of the world is covered with water?
3. Which type of resource is water?
4. What are the main sources of freshwater?
5. What percent of total electricity contributes the hydroelectric power?
6. Explain the causes of water soccer city in India, in detail.
7. What are the needs of water conservation in India?
8. How growing population can cause water scarcity?
2. Multipurpose river projects and integrated water sources management
Multipurpose projects are large scale hydro project of an including dams for water
retention, canals for irrigation, water processing and pipeline to supply water to cities
and power generation.
Dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, open
creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment.
Provide water for irrigation, electricity generation, water supply for domestic and
industrial uses,flood control, recreation, in- land navigation and fish breedings, Hence,
They are referred as multipurpose projects.
Dams and multipurpose projects are proclaimed by Jawaharlal Nehru as a temples of
modern India.
Floods are quite common in the areas prone to heavy rainfall. Due to cyclone and heavy
rain the level of the river water rises above the land. The land get some merged under
water they buy causing huge loss to life and property.
, Questions can be asked:-
1. Which river is associated with the Hirakud Dam?
2. With which dam is the Narmada bachao andolan associated?
3. Which river has been named as river of sorrow?
4. Mention any four main objectives of multipurpose river valley projects. Name any
two multipurpose projects of India.
5. What is a dam?
6. How did Jawaharlal Nehru view dams?
7. On which river Sardar Sarovar dam located?
8. In which state is Rana Pratap Sagar located?
9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river projects?
3. Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting refers to gathering accumulating and storing rainwater for
different uses.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting was commonly practice to store drinking water in
Rajasthan.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Palar Pani also called rainwater. It is considered as a fewest form of natural water in
semi arid and arid regions of Rajasthan.
Tankas refer to underground tanks used to store drinking water.
Guls or kuls refer to diversion channels for water, built by people in mountainous
regions, are used for agriculture.
Bamboo drip irrigation system is a 200 year old system of tapping stream and spring
water is practiced in Meghalaya.
Tamilnadu is the first and the only state in India which has made roof top rainwater
harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are legal
provisions to punish the defaulters.
Questions can be asked:-
1. What is the technique of rainwater harvesting?
2. Where is rooftop rainwater harvesting practiced in India?
3. Why is practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting on decline in western Rajasthan?
4. Which is the first and the only state in India that has made rooftop rainwater
harvesting compulsory to all the houses across the state?
5. What is drip irrigation?
6. What is Palar Pani?
Book exercise questions:
Q.IC. Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rewrite them correctly.
(a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in
proper utilisation of water resources.
Ans.: (a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have
caused the over exploitation of water resources. These urban centres require land and so, a lot of
forest cover is destroyed. Thus, the ecological balance is disturbed. Due to this, the rainfall decreases
and so does the groundwater. So, this has caused over exploitation of water resources.
1. Water scarcity and the need for water conservation and management
What is the capacity means non availability of water. It is an outcome of large and
growing population and consequent water demands and unequal excess.
96.5% of the total volume of world's water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5%
as fresh water.
About 70% of the freshwater occurs as IC and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and the
mountainous regions of the world.
Only 30% of freshwater is stored as groundwater in the worlds aquifers.
The total renewable water resources of India are estimated at 1897 square kilometre
per annum.
The availability of water resources varies over space in time, mainly due to the variations
in seasonal and annual precipitation.
Hydrological cycle is also known as the water cycle, it is continuous movement of water
on, above and below the surface of the earth.
Water scarcity may be outcome of large and growing population and consequent
greater demands for water and unequal access to it.
In India, hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22% of the total electricity
produced.
Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times we have been
building sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams built of stone rubble, Reservoir or
lakes, embankment and canals for irrigation.
Conserve and manage water resource is the need of the day.
Questions can be asked:-
1. Define water cycle.
2. How much part of the world is covered with water?
3. Which type of resource is water?
4. What are the main sources of freshwater?
5. What percent of total electricity contributes the hydroelectric power?
6. Explain the causes of water soccer city in India, in detail.
7. What are the needs of water conservation in India?
8. How growing population can cause water scarcity?
2. Multipurpose river projects and integrated water sources management
Multipurpose projects are large scale hydro project of an including dams for water
retention, canals for irrigation, water processing and pipeline to supply water to cities
and power generation.
Dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, open
creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment.
Provide water for irrigation, electricity generation, water supply for domestic and
industrial uses,flood control, recreation, in- land navigation and fish breedings, Hence,
They are referred as multipurpose projects.
Dams and multipurpose projects are proclaimed by Jawaharlal Nehru as a temples of
modern India.
Floods are quite common in the areas prone to heavy rainfall. Due to cyclone and heavy
rain the level of the river water rises above the land. The land get some merged under
water they buy causing huge loss to life and property.
, Questions can be asked:-
1. Which river is associated with the Hirakud Dam?
2. With which dam is the Narmada bachao andolan associated?
3. Which river has been named as river of sorrow?
4. Mention any four main objectives of multipurpose river valley projects. Name any
two multipurpose projects of India.
5. What is a dam?
6. How did Jawaharlal Nehru view dams?
7. On which river Sardar Sarovar dam located?
8. In which state is Rana Pratap Sagar located?
9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river projects?
3. Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting refers to gathering accumulating and storing rainwater for
different uses.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting was commonly practice to store drinking water in
Rajasthan.
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Palar Pani also called rainwater. It is considered as a fewest form of natural water in
semi arid and arid regions of Rajasthan.
Tankas refer to underground tanks used to store drinking water.
Guls or kuls refer to diversion channels for water, built by people in mountainous
regions, are used for agriculture.
Bamboo drip irrigation system is a 200 year old system of tapping stream and spring
water is practiced in Meghalaya.
Tamilnadu is the first and the only state in India which has made roof top rainwater
harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are legal
provisions to punish the defaulters.
Questions can be asked:-
1. What is the technique of rainwater harvesting?
2. Where is rooftop rainwater harvesting practiced in India?
3. Why is practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting on decline in western Rajasthan?
4. Which is the first and the only state in India that has made rooftop rainwater
harvesting compulsory to all the houses across the state?
5. What is drip irrigation?
6. What is Palar Pani?
Book exercise questions:
Q.IC. Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rewrite them correctly.
(a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in
proper utilisation of water resources.
Ans.: (a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have
caused the over exploitation of water resources. These urban centres require land and so, a lot of
forest cover is destroyed. Thus, the ecological balance is disturbed. Due to this, the rainfall decreases
and so does the groundwater. So, this has caused over exploitation of water resources.
