SALWAN PUBLIC SCHOOL, GURUGRAM

Study Material
Class - X
Social Science (Geography)
Water Resources

Three-fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water, but only a small proportion of it accounts for
fresh water that can be put to use. This freshwater is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground
water. Rest, available in seas and oceans, is saline in nature.

Water is Renewable Resource:

Water is continually renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. All water moves within the
hydrological cycle making water a renewable resource.

Importance / Uses of Water:

 Water is essential for sustenance of life on planet earth.
 It is required for domestic consumption.
 It is being put to use for various industrial purposes.
 Agriculture depends on water for irrigation.
 The growing urbanisation with its modern lifestyle has been demanding greater share of water.
 Water is used for disposal of municipal sewage and dirt of all sorts.
 It is also important for generation of hydro-electricity.
 An important medium of transportation.
 Rich source of minerals.

Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation & Management:

Why is it difficult to imagine water scarcity?

Given the abundance and renewability of water, it is difficult to imagine water scarcity.

Water Scarcity due to variation in Precipitation:

- Water shortages are generally associated with regions having low rainfall or drought prone areas.
- The availability of water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the variations in seasonal
and annual precipitation.

Causes for Water Scarcity -

Water scarcity in most cases is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water
among different social groups.
Quantitative Factors responsible for Water Scarcity –
1. Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population which has led to greater demands
and unequal access.
2. A large population means more water to produce more food. To increase food-grain production, water
resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry-season agriculture. Increasing
number of farmers are using wells and tube-wells for irrigation. This leads to falling groundwater levels.
3. Post-independence India witnessed intensive industrialisation. The ever-increasing number of
industries and MNCs exert pressure on existing freshwater resources. Industries are heavy users of
water. Apart from industrial processes these also require power to run. Much of this energy comes from
hydroelectricity. Hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22 % of the total electricity produced in
India.
4. Multiplying urban centres with large and dense population and urban lifestyles require more water
and energy which has aggravated the problem. Most of the housing societies and colonies have their

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own groundwater pumping devices to meet their water needs. This over-exploitation has caused
depletion of fragile water resources in several cities.
Qualitative Factors responsible for Water Scarcity –
Scarcity in areas with ample water is may be due to bad quality. Much of water may be polluted by
domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture, etc. This makes
water hazardous for human use.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-

The Government of India has accorded highest priority to improve the quality of life and enhance ease
of living of people especially those living in rural areas by announcing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
The Goal of JJM is to enable every rural household get assured supply of potable piped water at a
service lev long-term basis by ensuring functionality of the tap water connections at service level of 55
litres per capita per day regularly on long-term basis by ensuring functionality of the tap water
connections

Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management:

Hydraulic Structures in Ancient & Medieval India –

Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times sophisticated hydraulic structures
like dams built of rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments and canals for irrigation were constructed.
# In the first century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad had sophisticated water harvesting system
channeling the flood water of the river Ganga.
# During the time of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built.
# Evidences of sophisticated irrigation works have also been found in Kalinga (Orissa), Nagarjunakonda
(Andhra Pradesh), Bennur (Karnataka), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), etc.
# In the 11th Century, Bhopal Lake, one of the largest artifical lakes of its time was built.
# In the 14th Century, the tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi was constructed by Iltutmish for supplying water to
Siri Fort area.

Dams –

What is a dam?
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a
reservoir, lake or impoundment. ‘Dam’ refers to the reservoir rather than the structure.

Spillway or Weir of a Dam:

Most dams have a section called spillway or weir over which or through which it is intended that water
will flow either intermittently or continuously.

Classification of Dams:
Dams are classified according to structure, intended purpose or height.
1. Based on structure and the materials used, dams are classified as timber dams, embankment dams
or masonry dams, with several subtypes.
2. According to the height, dams can be categorised as large dams and major dams or alternatively as
low dams, medium height dams and high dams.

Uses of Dams:
1. Traditional Use: Dams were traditionally built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used
later to irrigate agricultural fields.
2. Modern Use: Today, dams are just not built for irrigation only but also for electricity generation,
water supply for domestic and industrial uses, flood control, recreation, inland navigation, fish breeding,
etc.
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Multi-Purpose River Projects –

Aim:
Multi-purpose Project with their integrated water resources management approach aimed-
 To lead the nation to development and progress overcoming the handicap of its colonial past.
 To integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and
growth of the urban economy.

When were these Multi-purpose Projects launched in India?

These projects were launched during the post-independence period.

Examples of Multi-purpose Projects where the many uses of the impounded water are integrated with
one another:
(i) In the Sutluj-Beas river basin, the Bhakra Nangal Project water is being used both for hydel power
production and irrigation.
(ii) The Hirakud Project in the Mahanadi basin integrates conservation of water with flood control.

Why are dams now referred to as multi-purpose projects?

Today, dams are built for irrigation, electricity generation, water supply for domestic and industrial uses,
flood control, recreation, inland navigation, fish breeding, etc. Hence, dams are now referred to as multi-
purpose projects where the many uses of the impounded water are integrated with one another.

Importance / Advantages:
Multipurpose River Valley Projects control flood, check soil erosion, facilitate
irrigation, provide water for domestic consumption and industrial purposes, generate electricity, provide
inland navigation, facilities for recreation, preservation of wildlife, development of fisheries, etc.

Why did Jawaharlal Nehru proudly proclaim the dams as the ‘temples of modern India’?
It would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and
growth of the urban economy.

Disadvantages / Problems:
In recent years, multi-purpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and opposition
for a variety of reasons.
• Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow causing poor sediment
flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of reservoir. This results in
rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.
• Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for
spawning.
• The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation and soil
leading to its decomposition over a period of time.
• Multi-purpose projects and large dams have also been the cause of many new social movements
like the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’ etc. Resistance to these projects is
due to the large-scale displacement of local communities. Local people often had to give up their land,
livelihood and access and control over resources for greater good of the nation. But they do not benefit.
• Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to water
intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like salinisation of the soil.
• Dams have transformed the social landscape i.e. increasing the social gap between the richer
landowners and landless poor. The dams create conflicts between people wanting different uses and
benefits from the same water resources.

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Example: In Gujarat, the Sabarmati-basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over the higher
priority given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
• Inter-state water disputes are also becoming common with regard to sharing the costs and
benefits of the multi-purpose project.
Example: The Krishna-Godavari dispute is due to the objection raised by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
governments. It is regarding the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra government for a
multi-purpose project. This would reduce downstream flow in their states with adverse consequences for
agriculture and industry.
• Dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the
reservoir. Moreover, the big dams have mostly been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of
excessive rainfall. The floods have not only devastated life and property but also caused extensive soil
erosion.
Example: The release of water from dams during heavy rains aggravated the flood situation in
Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2006.
• Sedimentation also meant that flood plains were deprived of silt, a natural fertiliser, further
adding on to the problem of land degradation.
• It was also observed that these dams /projects induced earthquakes.
• The multi-purpose projects create problems like water-borne diseases, pests and pollution
resulting from excessive use of water.

Rainwater Harvesting:

Water Harvesting System – a viable alternative:

Due to the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi-purpose projects, water harvesting
system was considered a viable alternative.

Historical Background:
- In ancient India, an extraordinary tradition of water-harvesting system existed.
- People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types.
- They developed wide ranging techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood
water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and their water needs.

Meaning:
It is a technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater by
constructing structures, such as dugwells, check dams, etc.
Rainwater is stored in ground reservoirs by adopting artifical recharge techniques to meet the household
and other needs through storage tanks.

Objectives of rainwater harvesting:

1. To meet the increasing demand for water,
2. To reduce run off,
3. To augment the groundwater storage and raise the water-table,
4. To reduce groundwater pollution,
5. To supplement domestic water requirement during summer and long dry spells.

Technique of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting:

Rainwater Harvesting in Rajasthan through Tanks or Tankas:
+ In the semi-arid 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.
+ The tanks could be as large as a big room. One household in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 metres
deep, 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide.

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+ The tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system. These were built
inside the main house or the courtyard.
+ They were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. Rain falling on the roof top
would travel down the pipe and was stored in these underground ‘tankas’.
+ The first spell of rain was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs and pipes. The rainwater
from the subsequent showers was then collected.
+ The rainwater can be stored in the tankas till the next rainfall. It is an extremely reliable source of
drinking water when all other sources are dry up, particularly in summers.
+ Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer heat as it
would keep the room cool.
+ Rainwater, or palar pani, as commonly referred to in these parts, is considered the purest form of
natural water.

Why is the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting on the decline in western Rajasthan?
Today, in western Rajasthan the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting on the decline as plenty of
water is available due to the perennial Rajasthan Canal.

Why do some houses still maintain tankas when the Rajasthan Canal provides plenty of water?
They do not like the taste of tap water.

Rainwater Harvesting in Different Regions:

In the semi-arid 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. The tanks could be
as large as a big room. The tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
These were built inside the main house or the courtyard.
In hill and mountainous regions, people-built diversion channels like the ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the
Western Himalayas for agriculture.
In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields.
In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures. These
allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johgads’ in other
parts of Rajasthan.
‘Rooftop rain water harvesting’ was commonly practiced in Rajasthan. In the semi-arid 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. Many houses constructed underground rooms
adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.
Rooftop rain water harvesting is the most common practice in Shillong, Meghalaya. Nearly every
household in the city has a roof top rain water harvesting structure. Nearly 15-25 % of the total water
requirement of the household is met by these structures.
 In Meghalaya, a 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes, is
prevalent. About 18-20 litres of water enters the bamboo pipe system, gets transported over hundreds of
metres, and finally reduces to 20 -80 drops per minute at the site of the plant.
In Gendathur, a remote backward village in Mysore (Karnataka), villagers have
installed, in their household’s rooftop rainwater harvesting system to meet their water needs. Nearly 200
households have installed this system and the village has earned the rare distinction of being rich in
rainwater. This village receives an annual precipitation of 1,000 mm, and with 80 percent of collection
efficiency and of about 10 fillings, every house can collect and use 50,000 litres of water annually. From
the 20 houses, the net amount of rainwater harvested annually amounts to1,00,000 litres.
Tamil Nadu 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.

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Conservation and Management of Water Resources:
 Creation of more water storage reservoirs.
 Measures to raise underground water level by adopting ways like rainwater harvesting.
 Adopt watershed development programmes.
 Avoid wastage of water at all level.
 Creating awareness among the community and involving people in all activities concerned with
water conservation and its better management.
 Stopping use of treated water for gardening, washing vehicles, toilets, etc.
 Registering all water-extraction points like tubewells, borewells, etc.
 Preventing pollution of water bodies.
 Immediate repair of the water-supply pipelines to prevent wastage and pollution of water.

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