Water Resources

Class 10 Geography • Chapter 03

1. Water Scarcity

Three-fourth of earth's surface is covered with water, but only a small proportion is fresh water.
Causes of Water Scarcity:

1. Over-exploitation: Excessive use for irrigation (Green Revolution) and industries.
2. Growing Population: More people = More food = More water required.
3. Urbanization: New lifestyle, housing societies have their own pumping devices.
4. Pollution: Effluents turn water hazardous. (Even if water is available, it's not usable).

2. Multi-Purpose River Projects (Dams)

Dams are barriers across flowing water that obstruct, direct or retard the flow.
Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed dams as the "Temples of Modern India".

3. Rainwater Harvesting

A viable alternative to dams (socio-economically and environmentally). Ancient India had sophisticated systems.

Traditional Methods

• Guls or Kuls: Diversion channels in Western Himalayas for agriculture.
• Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting: Commonly practised in Rajasthan to store drinking water.
• Inundation Channels: Bengal (Flood plains) to irrigate fields.
• Khedins and Johads: Agricultural fields converted into rain-fed storage structures in arid Rajasthan (Jaisalmer/Alwar).
• Tankas: Underground tanks in Bikaner, Phalodi, Barmer. Built inside houses for drinking water (Palar Pani - purest form of natural water). Kept rooms cool.