CHAPTER 3 Water Resources PDF

STUDY MATERIALS CLASS-X GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 3 (WATERRESOURCES) 1.Why is the demand of fresh water in India increasing?...

STUDY MATERIALS CLASS-X GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 3 (WATERRESOURCES) 1.Why is the demand of fresh water in India increasing? (3) Ans: The demand of fresh water in India is increasing because of the following reasons: a) Population growth: The demand of fresh water in India is increasing with the growth of population. b) Advancement in agriculture: It also leads to an increase in the demand for fresh water as agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the country. c) Industrialization: Rapid industrialization is another reason for a rise in the demand for fresh water as some of them are heavy users of water. 2. Why is said that the availability of fresh water in the country varies over space and time? (3) Ans: It is said that the availability of fresh water in the country varies over space and time because the spatial distribution of the rainfall in very uneven. Rainfall during the south west monsoon period is also very uncertain. It is confined to four months only, i.e. June, July, August, and September. 3. Discuss three main sources of fresh water in India. (3) Ans: The main sources of fresh water are: i. Atmospheric water: The atmospheric water reaches the earth’s surface through different forms of precipitation. In India rainfall is the widespread form while snowfall is confined to the limited area particularly in the Himalayas. ii. Surface water: Surface water appears as rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks etc. iii. Ground Water: In India replenish able ground water resources is estimated at about 432 cubic km. Out of this 46% is shared by the Ganga and the Brahmaputra basins. 4. Write the distribution of rainwater in India. (3) Ans: In India rainfall is the most widespread form while snowfall is confined to limited areas particularly in the Himalayas. Rainfall is mainly concentrated in the monsoon season. The average rainfall in the country is around 117 cm. in a year. Over the desert region the annual rainfall could be as low as 20 cm. or even less. The eastern parts of India get an average of 200 cm. every year. In most parts of the country annual rainfall ranges between 50 -200 cm. 5. Discuss the major river systems of northern India. (3) Ans: In northern India, the three major river systems viz. the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries have the largest catchment areas. Most of them are snow-fed and perennial. However these catchment areas altogether account for only one-third of the total area in the country and have 60 per cent of the country’s total surface water resources. 6. Explain the distribution of surface water that occurs in the form of rivers in India. (3) Ans: Page 1 STUDY MATERIALS a. The Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra river systems account 60 per cent of the country’s total surface water resources. b. The remaining 40 per cent is shared equally by the westward and eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India. They include the Narmada and the Tapti among the west flowing rivers and the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri among the east flowing rivers. 7. Write a brief account of the different methods of irrigation practised India. (3) Ans: The different methods of irrigation practised in India are as follows: a. Canals: Canals are the most popular mode of irrigation in the plains, coastal and deltaic regions of India. They cover over 36.5 per cent of the total irrigated area. b. Wells and tube-wells: Well irrigation is popular in areas where the level of sweet ground water is high. In India, 58.8 per cent of the total irrigated area is occupied by the well irrigation. c. Tank irrigation: Tank irrigation covers only 4.7 per cent of the total irrigated area of the country. It is practised mainly in Peninsular India specially in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. 8. Why does dam also call “Multipurpose Project” in the modern time? (3) Ans: Traditionally dams were built to impound rivers and rain water that could be used in times of need particularly irrigating the fields where crops are grown. Nowadays, dams are built not just for irrigation but for the generation of hydro-electricity, water supply, flood control, inland navigation, fish breeding and for conservation of soils. Thus, the dams of rivers valley projects serve many purposes at the same time and hence are known as “Multipurpose Project”. 9. Explain the important role of Dams. (3) Ans: Dams are built not just for irrigation but for the generation of hydro-electricity, water supply, flood control, inland navigation, fish breeding and for conservation of soils. Thus, the dams of rivers valley projects serve many purposes at the same time and hence are known as “Multipurpose Projects”. In our country, a number of multi- purpose projects have been launched with integrated water resource management considering that it would lead the nation to development and progress. 9. Write a short note about the Bhakhra Nangal Project? (3) Ans: Bhakhra Nangal Project is constructed on the Sutlej as the joint venture of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. It irrigates about 1.5 per cent million hectares of land and produces 1240 MW of power. It is the highest dam in the world. A large reservoir is formed by the dam and it is known as the Govind Sagar. 10. Why is the Damudar valley Project one of the most important project in West Bengal? (3) Ans: The Damudar valley Project is one of the most important project in West Bengal because this project has four dams built on the river Damudar and its tributaries. It irrigates about 5.15 lakh hectares of land and has a total installed capacity of 118MW of power. It also helps in controlling floods in West Bengal. Besides, the main left bank canal is navigable for a distance of 136 km. 11. Give an account on the major dam built on the Chambal River? (3) Ans: The Chambal Project is jointly undertaken by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It irrigates 5.6 lakh hectares of land and produces 386MW of power. This project has three dams viz. the Gandhi Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh and the Pratap Sagar and the Jawahar Sagar dams in Rajasthan. 12. Write a short note about the Rajasthan Canal Project. (3) Page 2 STUDY MATERIALS Ans: The Rajasthan Canal Project is also known as Indira Gandhi Canal Project. It is meant for irrigating the thirsty lands of Ganganagar, Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan by using the water of Sutlej, the Ravi and Beas.It will irrigate about 1.25 million hectares of land. 13. Write an account of the multipurpose projects taken up on the Sutlej, The Mahanadi and the Chambal rivers in India. (3) Ans: The Bhakhra Nangal Project is constructed on the Sutlej River, it irrigates about 1.5 million hectares of land and produces 1204MW of power. The HIrakud dam is built on the river Mahanandi in Odisha. This project produces 350MW of power and irrigates one million hectares of land. Chambal Project is jointly undertaken by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It irrigates 5.6 lakh hectares of land and produces 386MW of power. 14. Write the adverse effects of the multipurpose projects. (3) Ans: i. Damming and regulations of rivers affect the natural flow of rivers resulting in sedimentation and in rockier stream beds. ii. It also makes the aquatic fauna difficult to migrate for spawning. Iii Besides, a large number of people have been displaced as the vegetational belts and agricultural fields are submerged by the impound water of the dams. Authorities have also failed to rehabilitate the communities that have been displaced. 15. How do the multipurpose projects raise a number of controversies in the country in recent years? (3) Ans: Big dams have raised a number of controversies in the country in recent years. Damming and regulating of rivers affect the natural flow of the rivers resulting in the sedimentation and in rockier stream beds. It also makes the aquatic fauna difficult to migrate for spawning. Besides, a large number of people have been displaced as the vegetational belts and agricultural fields are submerged by the impound water of the dams. Authorities have also failed to rehabilitate the communities that have been displaced. 16. Name three movements rose against the setting up of Multipurpose Projects in India. 3 Ans: The three movements rose against the setting up of Multipurpose Projects in India are: i). Narmada Bachao Andolan ii). Tehri Dam Andolan iii). Sardar Sarovar and Rihand Dams. 17. Why is the problem of water scarcity increasing day by day in India? (3) Ans: The problem of water scarcity is increasing day by day in India because of the following: I. Variation in the availability: The availability of water resources in the country varies over space and time, mainly due to the variations in seasonal and annual precipitation. II. Population growth: In most of our cities, the problem of water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population, and consequent greater demands for water and unequal access to it. III. Advancement in Agriculture: More water is needed for irrigation where High Yielding Variety seeds have been used. Page 3 STUDY MATERIALS IV. Industrialisation: The ever increasing number of industries has put more pressure on fresh water resources as some of them are heavy users of water. Moreover, the power required to run them comes from hydro-electricity. V. Urbanisation: The consumption of fresh water has been made increasing by urbanisation. (Any Three) 18. Suggest three measures to conserve water scarcity in India? (3) Ans: The three measures to conserve water scarcity in India are: I. Effective measures for the conservation of water should be adopted with the use of water saving technologies and methods. II. Attempts should also be made to prevent water pollution. III. There is need to encourage watershed management, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reuse. 19. State the important of rainwater harvesting? (3) Ans: The important of rainwater harvesting are the following: i. It is a low cost and eco-friendly technique for preserving every drop of water by guiding the rainwater to wells, bores and pits. ii. Rainwater harvesting increase water availability and checks the declining of ground water table. iii. It improves the quality of groundwater through dilution of contaminants like fluoride and nitrates. ************ Page 4