Water Resources - Long Answer Questions
Shortage of water to meet the needs. Can be due to low rainfall or over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access to water.
Dams built to serve many purposes: Irrigation, Electricity generation, Flood control, Water supply, Fish breeding, Recreation.
Jawaharlal Nehru. He believed they would integrate rural agriculture with urban industrialization.
A technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater (Rooftop harvesting, Gul/Kuls, Khadins/Johads).
1. Displace local people. 2. Submerge forests. 3. Cause sedimentation (poor habitat for aquatic life). 4. Cause earthquakes/water-borne diseases.
A movement initiated by Medha Patkar to save the Narmada river and the people displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
Diversion channels built in the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
Rainwater storage structures in agricultural fields in arid Rajasthan. Khadins (Jaisalmer), Johads (Alwar).
Underground tanks in Rajasthan (Bikaner, Phalodi, Barmer) to store drinking water (Palar Pani). Built inside houses.
A 200-year-old system in Meghalaya where bamboo pipes are used to transport water from springs to plants.
To recharge groundwater. It is the first state to make it legally compulsory for all houses.
Objection raised by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments regarding the diversion of more water at Koyna by Maharashtra govt for a hydro-electric project.
Rainwater stored in Tankas, considered the purest form of natural water.
To ensure food security, prevent health hazards, and protect the ecosystem from degradation.
Yes, through the hydrological cycle. But 96.5% is ocean (salty) and only 2.5% is fresh water.
Ice sheets/glaciers (Antarctica/Greenland) and Groundwater.
Falling groundwater levels, affecting water availability and food security.
Domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Structures built to manage water (dams, lakes, canals). Ancient India had many (e.g., Sudarshan Lake).
Iltutmish constructed a tank at Hauz Khas for supplying water to Siri Fort area.
Water Resources - Important Facts
96.5% of water is in oceans.
2.5% is fresh water.
70% of fresh water is ice.
India gets 4% of global precipitation.
India ranks 133 in water availability per person.
By 2025, large parts of India will face scarcity.
Sringaverapura (Allahabad) had ancient water harvesting.
Chandragupta Maurya built dams/lakes.
Nagarjunakonda/Bhopal Lake are ancient.
Bhakra Nangal Project: Satluj-Beas basin (Hydel/Irrigation).
Hirakud Project: Mahanadi basin (Flood control).
Sardar Sarovar Dam: Gujarat (Narmada).
Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).
Dams cause fragmentation of rivers.
Sedimentation deprives delta of silt.
Irrigation changes cropping pattern (water intensive crops).
Salinisation of soil is a problem.
Inter-state water disputes act as hurdles.
Kaveri dispute: Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu.
Rooftop harvesting is common in Shillong.
Shillong faces shortage despite being near Cherrapunji.
Gendathur (Karnataka) is a model village for harvesting.
Water Resources - Important Dates/Terms
Predicted Water Scarcity