O P JINDAL MODERN SCHOOL, HISAR

CLASS-X
CH.3- WATER RESOURCES (GEOGRAPHY)
• Earth's surface is covered three-fourth with water, but very small percentage of water is usable and
accessible to us. This is mainly the surface run-off and groundwater which can be renewed by the
hydrological process. Still, Water scarcity persists.
• Causes of Water Scarcity: Some of the common causes are: -
1. Uneven Precipitation - The seasonal and annual rainfall varies with respect to geographical region
and time.
2. Over Exploitation- With the increasing population and unequal access to water resources, the water
resources are exploited for domestic purposes, industrial needs. It is also polluted due to hazardous
practices of the industries.
3. Irrigative agricultural fields- Water is needed in a large quantity for growing crops. Farmer owns
individual water pumps, which causes decreased groundwater level in that region, causing scarcity
and drought.
4. Industries - Industries not only harm and pollute the water resources like rivers and lakes, they also
require groundwater for working by water pumping devices. The electric power supply source is also
Hydroelectric power.
5. Releasing untreated chemicals into water bodies by the industries.
6. Unplanned drainage system: - Throwing of garbage in water bodies pollute them and makes them
unfit for use.
• Solutions for Water Scarcity
1. Dams:
Dams are a hydraulic structure built to store water for future use. They act as reservoir. They become
barrier and restrict the flow of water which can be later used for purposes such as irrigation, domestic
use, industrial use, aquaculture, etc.
Advantages-
1. It is used in Irrigating the fields.
2. Used in Electricity Generation: In the Sutlej-Beas River Basin, The Bhakra- Nangal Dam is used
widely for hydel power production and irrigation.
3. Used as Water supply for domestic purposes.
4. Used to Supply water for industries and manufacturers.
5. Used in Flood control: - The Hirakud Dam in the Mahanadi basin is used for flood control.
6. Used for Recreational purposes like water parks.
7. Used in Inland Navigation.
8. Used in Fish Breeding.
Jawaharlal Nehru claimed dams to be "Temples of Modern India '' as they would help in activites
like agriculture, development of village economy, blooming of industries, and growth of the urban
economy.
• Disadvantages of Dams
• Constructions of Dam interrupted the flow of water which caused the irregular flow of sediments,
increasing the sedimentation in the reservoir, which caused the livelihood of aquatic animals quite
difficult. The dam led to fragmented rivers which caused the migration of aquatic organisms difficult.
• Local People started getting displaced from their land.
• Due to high water availability, all farmers preferred commercial crops, which caused an ecological
imbalance.
• There was an increase in the social gap as they caused disputes among the people wanting their
water needs to get prioritized. Even inter-state disputes became common.
• Flood control dams triggered floods as well because of the sedimentation in the reservoir. When
excessive rainfall occurred, dams failed to control floods. The release of water from dams caused
the floods itself many times.
• Land degradation: Other than the loss of lives and properties, the flood also eroded soil.
 2. Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is done according to the region and its climatic conditions. It is done in India
since ancient times.
• In Western Himalayas - 'guls' or 'kuls' were formed which were the diversion channels for water for
agriculture.
• In Rajasthan - Rooftop Rainwater harvesting is common.
• In West Bengal - Inundation channels are formed for irrigation.
• In Arid and Semi-arid regions - Agricultural fields are used as rain-fed storage structures which
allowed the rainwater to be stagnant and made the soil moist. They had large tanks which were as
big as a room and were placed in the courtyard of their house, the rainwater from their sloppy roofs
would accumulate in the tanks through a pipe.
• Tamil Nadu is the first state in India which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structures
compulsory for all houses across the state. There are legal provisions to punish defaulters.
‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’:
Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is an NGO that mobilized tribal people,
farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built
across the Narmada River in Gujarat. The movement originally focused on environmental issues
related to submerging of trees under the dam water. Recently its aim has been to enable the
displaced poor people to get full rehabilitation facilities from the government.

WORKSHEET

1. ................. is the first and only state in India which has made roof top rainwater harvesting
structure compulsory to all the houses across the state.
2. A 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water prevalent in Meghalaya is known
as ...............
3. Against the construction of which one of the following multi-purpose projects was the
Narmada Bachao Andolan launched?
a) Sardar Sarovar b) Bhakra Nangal c) Rihand d) Tehri
4. How does water become a renewable resource?
5. On which one of the following rivers the Tehri dam is being constructed?
a) Bhagirathi b) Yamuna c) Kosi d) Satluj
6. What is water scarcity? Discuss the factors responsible for water scarcity in India.
7. Define multi-Purpose projects. Discuss its main objectives or merits.
8. Why are large dams under scrutiny and opposition now a days?
9. What is rain water harvesting? Discuss its importance in India.
10. Explain various ways of water management practised in India.
11. How roof top rainwater harvesting was practised in arid and semi-arid areas of Rajasthan?
12. How do rapid urbanisation and industrialisation exert pressure on water resources?
13. What is the need for conservation of water resources?

Assertion Reason Type questions-

In the following questions there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and other is
Reason (R).
Read the following statements and choose the correct option.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is wrong.
d) A is wrong but R is true.
14. Assertion (A) : The availability of water resources varies over space and time.
Reason (R) : Availability of water resources helps in storing water.
15. Assertion (A) : Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern.
Reason (R) : Crops are now sown according to the amount and availability of water.