Water Resources

Textbook Exercises

Multiple Choice Questions

1.Based on the information given below classify each of the situations as suffering from water scarcity or not suffering from water scarcity?

• Region with high annual rainfall
• Region having high annual rainfall and large population
• Region having high annual rainfall but water is highly polluted
• Region having low rainfall and low population

ans:a, b are situations not suffering from water scarcity, c, d are situations, suffering from water scarcity

2.Which one of the following statements is not an argument in favour of multi-purpose river projects?

• Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity
• Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow helps to control floods
• Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood
• Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our industries and our homes

• Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood

3.Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rewrite them correctlz?

Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in proper utilization of water resources

ans:Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in proper utilisation of water resources. The mistake is that urban lifestyles have helped: The sentence should read: the urban lifestyles have not helped in proper utilisation of water resources

Regulating and damming of rivers does not affect the river natural flow and its sediment flow

ans: Regulating and damming of rivers (does not is the mistake and the correct words should be) affects the natural flow and its poor sediment flow

In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were not agitated when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts

ans: In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers (were not agitated is the mistake, the correct sentence should be) were agitated when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts

Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater water harvesting has gained popularity despite high waste availability due to Rajasthan Canal

ans: Today in Rajasthan, the practice of roof-top rainwater water-harvesting (has gained popularity is the mistake and the correct answer should be) is on the decline because there is high water availability due to Rajasthan canal

Answer the following questions in about 30 words

1.Explain how water becomes a renewable resource?

ans:With freshwater from surface runoff and groundwater being renewed and recharged, through the hydrological cycle, water continues to be renewed

2.What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?

ans:Water scarcity means non-availability or less availability of water. It is caused by exces¬sive use of water, over-population, and greater demand of water

3.Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river projects?

ans:Multi-purpose river projects have their merits and demerits. Nehru would call them us temples of modem India. They have led nation to development and progress, industrialisation. They have also led to poor sediment flow and excessive sendimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, leading to soil decomposition. Numerous social movements have been directed and launched to these problems

Answer the following questions in about 120 words

1.Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out?

ans:Rainwater harvesting in semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out through underground tanks for storing drinking water. These tanks are made part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system which are built inside the main house of the courtyard

They are connected to the sloping roofs of the houses and through a pipe. Rain falling in the rooftops travel down the pipe and is stored in these underground tankers. The first spell of rain is usually not collected as this would clean the roof and the pipe. The rainwater from the subsequent showers is than collected for the purpose.

2.Describe how modem adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to converse and store water?

ans:Dams help us conserve, store and manage water. They were traditionally built to im¬pound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to irrigate agricultural fields. Thirdly, they are not just built for irrigation, but they are there for generating electricity water, supply for domestic and industrial use, flood control, recreation, inland navigation and they are now for multipurpose objects. These replace the traditional adaptations of methods conserving and managing water