Rainwater Harvesting

Many thought that given the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi- purpose
projects, water harvesting system was a viable alternative, both socio-economically and
environmentally. In ancient India, along with the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed
an extraordinary tradition of water-harvesting system. People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall
regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest rainwater,
groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and their
water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people- built diversion channels like the 'guls' or
'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture. 'Rooftop rain water harvesting' was commonly
practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people
developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural
fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and
moisten the soil like the 'khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.

(A) Mention any one reason for having water harvesting system as an alternative in place of
multi-purpose projects as per the passage.

(B) Mention one important method of water harvesting followed in Bengal that is different from
the method followed in Rajasthan according to the source.

(C) People were aware of different ways of water harvesting in ancient India. Substantiate this
statement in 40 words based on the source.

2. Narmada Bachao Narmada Movement is a non-governmental Organisation (NGO) that

mobilised tribal people, farmers, environmentalists and Save human rights activists against the
Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada river in Gujarat. It originally focused on the
environmental issues related to trees that would be submerged under the dam water. Recently it
has re-focused the aim to enable poor citizens, especially the oustees (displaced people) to get
full rehabilitation facilities from the government. People felt that their suffering would not be in
vain... accepted the trauma of displacement believing in the promise of irrigated fields and
plentiful harvests. So, often the survivors of Rihand told us that they accepted their sufferings as
sacrifice for the sake of their nation. But now, after thirty bitter years of being a drift, their
livelihood having become even more precarious, they keep asking: "Are we the only ones
chosen to make sacrifices for the nation?"

(A) According to the case study, what was the initial reason for the resistance during the
Narmada Bachao Andolan?

(B) Explain the side effects of the construction of the dam on human population based on the
passage?

(C) What steps must be taken by the government of India in order to rehabilitate the people who
had to dislocate as mentioned in the source?
3.. In the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer,
almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tank for storing drinking water. The
tanks could be as large as a big room; one household in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 metres
deep, 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide. The tankas were part of the well-developed
rooftop rainwater harvesting system and were built inside the main house or the courtyard. They
were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. Rain falling on the rooftops
would travel down the pipe and was stored in these underground 'tankas. The first spell of rain
was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs and the pipes. The rainwater from the
subsequent showers was then collected. The rainwater can be stored in the tankas till the next
rainfall making it an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources are dried
up, particularly in the summers. Rainwater, or palar pani, as commonly referred to in these
parts, is considered the purest form of natural water. Many houses constructed underground
rooms adjoining the 'tanka' to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.
(A) "Palar Pani" is the outcome of rainwater harvesting system in Rajasthan. Based on the
source underline mechanism to collect Palar Pani using your own words.

(B) Mention two uses of the palar pani as described in the source.

(C) Mention a reason for rainwater harvesting according to the source.

4. In recent years, multi-purpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and
opposition for a variety of reasons. Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow
causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir,
resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the river's aquatic life. Dams also
fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning. The
reservoirs that are created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation and soil
leading to its decomposition over a period of time. Multi- purpose projects and large dams have
also been the cause of many new environmental movements like the 'Narmada Bachao
Andolan' and the 'Tehri Dam Andolan' etc. Resistance to these projects has primarily been due
to the large-scale displacement of local communities. Local people often had to give up their
land, livelihood and their meagre access and control over resources for the greater good of the
nation. So, if the local people are not benefiting from such projects then who is benefiting?
Perhaps, the landowners and large farmers, industrialists and few urban centres.

(A) Define the term 'Reservoir' repeatedly used in the given source.

(B) How has the passage described that the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' unified the local
population?

(C) Elaborate upon the shortfalls of dams with respect to India according to the source.

5.Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to water
intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like Stalinisation of
soil. At the same time, it has transformed the social landscape for e.g.; increasing the social gap
between the richer land owners and landless poor. As a result, we can see, the dams did create
conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water resources. In
Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over the higher
priority given to water supply in Urban areas, particularly during droughts. Inter-state water
disputes were also becoming common with regard to sharing the costs and benefits of
multi-purpose projects.

(A) How did irrigation change the cropping pattern in India?

(B) What was the cause of riot among the Sabarmati basin farmers in Gujarat?

(C) What are interstate war dispute? Why are such is issues raised?

6.In ancient India, along with the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed an
extraordinary tradition of water-harvesting system. People had an in-depth knowledge of
rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest groundwater,
rainwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological
conditions and their water needs. In hilly and mountainous regions, people built diversion
channels like the 'kuls' and 'guls' of Western Himalayas for agriculture. Rooftop rainwater
harvesting was very commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan.
(CBSE 2023)

(A)Mention any two methods of traditional water-harvesting used in India.

(B)How do people of Rajasthan utilise rainwater?

(C)Explain any two benefits of rainwater harvesting

7.Maharashtra is a state located in Western India, with a population of over 110 million people.
The state is home to several large cities, including Mumbai, and has a significant agricultural
sector. However, the state is facing a severe water crisis, with its water resources coming under
increasing pressure due to climate change, industrialisation and
urbanisation. The main challenges faced by water resource management in Maharashtra
are:
(i) Overexploitation of Groundwater:
Maharashtra is one of the most groundwater- stressed states in India, with the demand for water
exceeding the supply. Overexploitation of groundwater for agriculture and urban use has led to a
decline in water levels, which has severe implications for the
sustainability of water resources.
(ii) Pollution of Surface Water: Industrialisation and urbanisation have led to the pollution of
surface water bodies such as rivers and lakes. The pollution has led to water
quality degradation, which poses risks to human health and the environment.
(iii) Inefficient Irrigation Practices: Theagricultural sector is the largest user of water in
Maharashtra, accounting for around 80% of total water use. However, traditional irrigation
practices such as flood irrigation
are inefficient and lead to the wastage of water. (CBSE SQP 2023-24

(A)Mention any two reasons for the water crisis faced by the state of
Maharashtra.

(B)Despite being the second highest rainfall-receiving state of the country,

Maharashtra still faces water crisis. Substantiate this statement in 40 words.

(C)Propose any one solution to mitigate the water crisis faced by Maharashtra
state.

Answers:-
1. (A) Other alternative against multi-purpose projects is water harvesting system.

Related Theory

This is due to disadvantages of these projects and water harvesting being socioeconomically
and environmentally feasible. Water harvesting projects can empower communities by involving
them in the planning, implementation, and management of water resources.

(B) Inundation channels are built in the flood plains of Bengal to irrigate agriculture fields
whereas in Rajasthan water is stored in Kuls or guls.

(C) (1) In accordance with the regional ecological circumstances and their own water
requirements, people created a broad range of strategies to gather rainwater, groundwater, river
water, and flood water.

(2) They also possessed in-depth understanding of rainfall regimes and soil types. Similar to the
'khadins' in Jaisalmer and the 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan, agricultural fields in dry and
semi-arid areas were transformed into rain-fed storage structures that enabled the water to
stand and saturate the soil

2. (A) The initial reason for resistance at Narmada Bachao Andolan was because of the
associated environmental hazards, that caused huge deforestation and flooding of habitats.

(B) The side effects of dam construction is its impact on human resources and the displacement
of people and loss of habitat.

(C) The government of India must launch a rehabilitation programme under an appropriate
authority which should focus on the following:
(1) The relocation of destitutes.

(2) Provision of viable source of income at the relocated place in order for the people to sustain
themselves.

(3) Compensation for the loss of education, health and residence.

3. (A) Palar Pani is the name given to the rainwater stored in the Tankas usually constructed at
homes Rajasthan. It is very pure. It is collected using pipes which transfer the water collected on
roofs.

(B) Two use of the palar pani stored in the tankas are:

(1) It can be stored in rooms like tanks to regulate the temperature of the house.

(2) It can be used to recharge the grandwater tables when allowed to seep into the ground.

(C) Rainwater Harvesting is carried out in regions with insufficient water availability or low
groundwater tables.

4 (A) A reservoir can be understood as a body for water storage, which can be either natural or
artificial It is an open air water collection system.

(B) 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' has given the local population, a platform to unite and bring up
their collective issues associated with the nature up on the table. Thus, it has integrated and
united local people.

(C) Dams augment development in an industrial economy. Although in the case of our country,
these structures have proven to be counter productive.

(1) Dams have triggered more devastating floods.

(2) Dams have disturbed the natural flow of water, causing droughts and earthquakes etc.

Ans 5. (A)Through irrigation facilities, farmers in many parts of India have shifted their cropping
pattern to water intensive and commercial crops as can be seen in the states of
Punjab and Haryana.

(B)In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers caused a riot over the higher priority given to water
supply in urban areas particularly drought conditions.

(C) Inter-state water disputes are disagreements on the sharing of water and other resources of
rivers and other water bodies among State Governments. Such disputes are
raised due to unresolved problems regarding sharing of the costs and benefits of multi-purpose
projects on these rivers.

Ans 6.( A) The methods of traditional water-harvesting used in India are:

(i) Surface Runoff Harvesting.
(ii) Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting

(B)Rajasthan people constructed underground tanks inside the house or in the courtyard. There
was a pipe which is connected from the roofs and this helps in storing water to the tanks from
the roofs.

(C)The two benefits of rainwater harvesting are:

(i) Promotes both water and energy conservation.
(ii) Improves the quality and quantity of ground water

Ans 7.(A) Reasons for the water crisis faced by the state of Maharashtra are:
(a) Overexploitation of groundwater.
(b) Pollution of surface water bodies due to industrialisation and urbanisation.

(B)Despite receiving the second-highest rainfall in the country, traditional irrigation practises like
flood irrigation leading to water shortages in Maharashtra. This is because flood irrigation
involves excessive water use, and the water gets lost due to runoff,
leading to less water available for other uses.

(C)Implementing rainwater harvesting systems in Maharashtra could be an effective

solution to mitigate the water crisis by increasing the availability of water and reducing
the pressure on existing water sources.