WATER RESOURCES OF INDIA

The water resources are as follows-

i) Surface water ii) Groundwater

Surface water is available on the surface of the earth in the form of rivers,
lakes, ponds and canals.
Ground water is the part of rainwater that seeps through the cracks and
crevices into the ground.
Irrigation and it’s importance in India-
Irrigation is the process of supplying water to crops by artificial measures such
as canals, wells, tube wells, lakes from the existing natural sources of water
like rivers, tanks, ponds or underground water.
Need for irrigation in India-

i) Uneven and uncertain distribution of rainfall.

ii) Some crops which grow in winter need artificial supply of water.
iii) Some crops like rice, sugarcane, jute, cotton need more water and
hence need irrigation.
iv) The ever increasing population in India demands even more intensive
agriculture. For that irrigation is necessary.

METHODS OF IRRIGATION
 Canal Irrigation

Conditions necessary for digging canals-

i) Low level relief with deep fertile soil.
ii) Perennial sources of water. Canals of India are of two types-
a) Inundation canals, b) Perennial canals

Inundation Canals-

These canals are taken out from the rivers without any regulating systems like
weirs and barrages at their head to regulate the flow of river.
These canals are taken out during the floods and there is excess of water.
Only the lower level regions can be irrigated by such canals as once the rainy
season is over and floods subside, the level of water falls below the level of canal
head.
Advantages- i) Easy and cheap ii) Useful in controlling floods
Disadvantages- i) There is uncertainty of water supply.
ii)These are used only during floods.

iii) Only lowland areas can be irrigated.

b) Perennial Canals-

These canals are useful throughout the year as they draw water from perennial
rivers, artificial lakes or barrages, constructed across the river.
Advantages- As these canals serve throughout the year,the agricultural
production in the areas of less or uncertain rainfall has increased considerably.
Irrigation by canals is more suitable in Northern India as compared to southern
India due to the following reasons-

a) The rivers of northern plains are perennial as they are snowfed whereas in
southern India rivers are seasonal.
 b) The surface of northern plains is flat and soft and hence easy to dig while in
the south, the region being rocky is difficult to dig.
Important Canal systems in India

1. Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh on river Ganga.

2. Nangal Canal on river Sutlej in Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal
Pradesh.
3. Tungabhadra on river Tungabhadra in Karnataka.
4. Hirakund on river Mahanadi in Odisha.

Tank Irrigation

Tanks are constructed in the areas of natural depression by building earthen

embankments or masonry walls to collect water.
Conditions necessary for building tanks in Peninsular India,

i) Most of the areas of the Peninsular India is uneven with many natural
depressions where the tanks are built.
ii) The Deccan plateau consists of underlying hard impervious rocks which
do not allow the water to seep through.
iii) These tanks collect water during rainy season and help in raising the
water table in the Peninsular India.
Advantages-
It is cheaper as the rainwater is collected in natural pits and depressions Which
are easily available in the Peninsular India.
Tanks occupy less area comparatively and can be built in the region where
building canals are not possible.
Disadvantages-
Since tanks are shallow, large amount of water is wasted through evaporation.
Tanks are non-perennial and dry up in summer.
Tanks are mostly found in Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Tamil Nadu. Other
Important states are Odisha, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
Wells

Suitable conditions for digging wells-

1. The water table should be high.

2. The ground should have soft rocks.
 Types of Wells

i) Surface Wells ii) Tube Wells

Surface wells are cheap to construct and maintain. They can be lined or unlined.
Unlined wells or Kachcha wells are normally constructed where the water table is
high and are not lined by bricks or cement.
Lined wells or Pucca wells are lined with bricks and cement and are mostly
covered and safe for supplying drinking water as well as for domestic purposes.
Advantages-

a) Well is simplest and cheapest source of irrigation and the poor Indian
farmers can easily afford it.
b) It is an independent source of irrigation and can be used as and when the
necessary arises.
c) Well can be dug at any convenient place and takes a small area.
Disadvantages-
The wells which are not that deep they may get dried up during summer.
They can irrigate only a small area.
Sometimes they are brackish or salty hence may not be suitable for drinking or
irrigation.
Well irrigation is prevalent in the Northern plains and most popular in UP,
Haryana, Punjab, and Bihar.
Tube wells-
A tubewell is a borewell which is dug deep in the ground with the help of a drilling
machine.For the construction of tube wells, sufficient groundwater supply and
cheap electric power are essential.
Advantages of Tube wells-
They are very useful during drought conditions when surface wells dry up.
They can irrigate a larger area as compared to surface wells.
Disadvantages-
The farmer has to spend money regularly on electricity or diesel.
It can cause depletion of groundwater.
Modern methods of of irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation-
Sprinklers are set up in the fields and supplied with water by hoses from the
source of water.
Advantages- This type of irrigation doesn’t involve any loss of water by seepage or
evaporation,this is the best method as there is no wastage of water.
Disadvantages- High initial cost, high operating cost
Drip irrigation-
Water is taken directly to the roots of

the
plants or trees. A plastic tube is used which has small holes through which water
keeps on dripping steadily.
Advantages-
Fertilizer and nutrient loss is minimised due to localised and reduced leaching.
Soil erosion is less
Water distribution is highly uniform.
Labour cost is less than other irrigation methods.
Bamboo Irrigation-
It is an old system of tapping stream water by using Bamboo pipes.
It does not need any fuel or power hence it is economical.
RAINWATER HARVESTING-
The activity of collecting rainwater directly or recharging it into the ground to
improve groundwater storage.
Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Method-

Rainwater can be collected over our rooftops and within our house premises and
can be channelized through small PVC pipes into the underground pits,sump,
wells or borewells.
As this technique is very simple, practical and cost-effective,it can be practiced by
individuals both in towns as well as villages.
Advantages-

1. It does not cause pollution and is environment friendly.

2. It is cost effective and easily affordable.
3. It reduces soil erosion and improves soil moisture.
RAINWATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES IN DIFFERENT STATES
Rajasthan- Johads, Kunds
Gujrat- Khadin
Andhra Pradesh- Cheruva
Assam- Dongs
Karnataka- mere
West Bengal- Pukur, khal, Bil
Jammu and Kashmir Songs
RECHARGE OF GROUND WATER
It is done by the following structures-
Pit recharge, trenches, Dug wells and hand pump
NATIONAL WATER POLICY
The main objective of the policy is to provide surplus water to the deficit areas.
The policy aims at reducing the runoff, soil erosion and silting of river beds.