Sure Shot Questions for Board Exams: Water Resources | Social Studies (SST) Class 10 PDF Download

Ans: (i) The water harvesting system emerges as a viable alternative due to its dual benefits—socio-economic and environmental friendliness.
(ii) 'Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting' involves capturing rainwater from the roof, storing it in reservoirs, and providing a sustainable source of drinking water, especially notable in Rajasthan.
(iii) Ancient India employed diverse water conservation methods, such as building diversion channels like 'guls' or 'kuls' in the Western Himalayas for agriculture and creating rainfed storage structures like 'Khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in Rajasthan's other regions.

Ans:  Water scarcity in India is exacerbated by its large and growing population:

• Greater demands for water arise not only from domestic use but also from increased food production.
• Densely populated areas experience groundwater over-exploitation, significantly lowering water tables.
• Industrial demands and associated pollution further strain freshwater resources, contributing to water scarcity in many Indian cities.

Ans: Resistance to these projects (Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Dam Andolan) has primarily been due to the large-scale displacement of local communities. So, if the local people are not benefiting from such projects then who is benefited? With abundance of water many farmers shifting to water intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like salinization of the soil. It has transformed the social landscape i.e. increasing the social gap between the richer landowners and the landless poor.

Ans: Urbanization exacerbates water scarcity in India due to:

• Increased water demand for personal use in densely populated urban centers.
• Over-exploitation of groundwater by housing societies and colonies.
• Industries in urban areas contribute to water stress through high consumption and pollution.

Ans: A large amount of this precious water just drains away. The only way to save this water from wastage is by rainwater harvesting. In its simplest form it involves storing the rainwater in tanks, or by making embankments etc. The different methods of rainwater harvesting used in India have been as follows:
(a) Guls or Kuls in the Western Himalayas.
(b) Rooftop rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan associated with tankas. Khadins in Jaisalmer and Johads in other parts of Rajasthan were also popular.
(c) Inundation channels in West Bengal
(d) In Meghalaya which gets copious rain, rainwater harvesting is commonly practiced.
(e) In modern civil construction and housing societies provision for rainwater harvesting.

Ans: In Meghalaya, a system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes is prevalent. This system solved the problem of acute shortage of water, to some extent.

Ans: Archaeological and historical records reveal India's rich tradition of sophisticated hydraulic structures:

• In the 1st century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad showcased advanced water harvesting, channeling Ganga's floodwaters.
• During Chandragupta Maurya's rule, extensive construction of dams, lakes, and irrigation systems occurred.
• Evidence of sophisticated irrigation works is found in places like Kalinga, Nagarjunakonda, Bennur, and Kolhapur. In the 11th century, the construction of Bhopal Lake and the 14th-century tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi, further demonstrates India's historical prowess in hydraulic engineering.

Ans: Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, and poorer habitat for the rivers’ aquatic life. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning. Reservoirs created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition.

Ans: (d)
The Tungabhadra Dam is located in the state of Karnataka. Therefore, the correct answer is (d) Karnataka.

Ans: Water scarcity in most cases results from over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access among social groups:

• Over-exploitation is evident through extensive tubewell use for irrigation and industrial purposes.
• Excessive use is seen in urban areas where water is wasted due to inadequate recycling.
• Unequal access is apparent with affluent individuals having ample water while the poor face limited supply.