Q1. Why did Jawaharlal Nehru proudly proclaim the dams as the ‘temples of modern India’?
Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru called dams the ‘temples of modern India’ because they were seen as symbols of nation-building after independence. They:
- Provided water for irrigation.
- Generated hydroelectricity.
- Controlled floods and droughts.
- Promoted industrial and agricultural growth.
Q2. Give various methods of rainwater harvesting since ancient times.
Answer:
Ancient methods of rainwater harvesting in India included:
- Kuls and Guls in Western Himalayas.
- Rooftop rainwater storage tanks in Rajasthan.
- Khadins and Johads in arid regions.
- Ponds, tanks, and stepwells in different parts of India.
Q3. What do you know about the Narmada Bachao Andolan?
Answer:
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) was a people’s movement started in 1985 against the construction of large dams on the Narmada River, especially the Sardar Sarovar Dam. It:
- Highlighted displacement of tribal and local communities.
- Raised concerns about environmental damage.
- Demanded rehabilitation for affected people and alternatives to big dams.
Q4. What is a dam? What types of dams are built?
Answer:
- Dam: A structure built across rivers to store and control water.
- Types of dams:
- Gravity dam (made of concrete/stone, uses weight to hold water).
- Embankment dam (made of earth/rock).
- Arch dam (curved structure transferring water pressure to sides).
Q5. What are the main causes of water scarcity?
Answer:
Main causes of water scarcity are:
- Unequal access and overuse of water.
- Growing population and urbanisation.
- Over-exploitation of groundwater.
- Pollution of rivers and lakes.
- Poor water management and wastage.
Q6. Give reasons for the need of conservation of water.
Answer:
We need to conserve water because:
- Freshwater is limited and unevenly distributed.
- To meet future demands of agriculture, industries, and domestic use.
- To maintain ecological balance.
- To avoid conflicts over water and ensure sustainable development.
Q1. In what ways are intensive industrialization and urbanization responsible for water scarcity?
Answer:
Intensive industrialization and urbanization contribute greatly to water scarcity in the following ways:
- Over-extraction for industries: Large quantities of water are required for cooling, processing, and generating power in industries, leading to depletion of water sources.
- Pollution of water sources: Industrial effluents discharged into rivers and lakes make water unfit for use.
- Urban water demand: Growing urban population increases demand for drinking water, sanitation, and domestic use, often exceeding available supply.
- Over-exploitation of groundwater: Urban centers rely heavily on tube wells and borewells, causing decline in water table.
Q2. What do you know about the ‘Bamboo-Drip Irrigation System’?
Answer:
The Bamboo-Drip Irrigation System is a traditional water management practice used in Meghalaya:
- It is an ingenious system of tapping perennial springs on hilltops and transporting water through a network of bamboo pipes.
- Water is allowed to flow by gravity and is carefully controlled at different points.
- This system ensures that water reaches fields drop by drop, preventing wastage.
- It is highly eco-friendly, sustainable, and still in use in tribal areas of Northeast India.
Q3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects?
Answer:
Advantages:
- Provide irrigation to agricultural fields.
- Generate hydroelectricity.
- Control floods and droughts.
- Provide water supply for domestic and industrial use.
- Promote navigation, fisheries, and tourism.
Disadvantages:
- Large-scale displacement of people, especially tribals.
- Submergence of forests and loss of biodiversity.
- Soil fertility loss due to reduced silt deposition in plains.
- Risk of earthquakes, landslides, and ecological imbalance.
Q4. Highlight hydraulic structures as a part of water management programs initiated in ancient India.
Answer:
In ancient India, people developed highly effective hydraulic structures for water management:
- Indus Valley Civilization: Built sophisticated drainage systems, reservoirs, and wells.
- South India: Temple tanks and reservoirs were common.
- Western India: Stepwells, johads, and underground tanks (kunds) stored rainwater.
- Himalayan regions: Diversion channels like kuls and guls carried mountain streams to villages.
These systems reflected people’s respect for water as a community resource and ensured sustainable use.
Q5. How were the underground tanks beneficial to the people of Rajasthan? Explain.
Answer:
Underground tanks (tanka system) were highly beneficial in the arid regions of Rajasthan:
- Water storage: Collected and stored rainwater for long dry spells.
- Reliable source: Served as dependable drinking water supply during droughts.
- Community use: Provided water for domestic needs when rivers and ponds dried up.
- Protected from evaporation: Being underground, water did not evaporate easily in hot climate.
Thus, underground tanks were a lifeline in desert regions with scarce rainfall.
Q6. Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store water.
Answer:
Modern India is reviving traditional rainwater harvesting methods with new adaptations:
- Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater from rooftops is collected and stored in tanks or directed to recharge groundwater.
- Recharge pits and borewells: Collected rainwater is allowed to percolate into the ground, improving groundwater levels.
- Urban initiatives: Cities like Chennai have made rooftop harvesting mandatory for houses.
- Revival of traditional ponds and tanks: Local communities are restoring ancient water bodies to store rainwater.
These adaptations ensure sustainable water supply and reduce dependence on over-exploited sources.
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