NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS CLASS – 12 | GEOGRAPHY INDIA- PEOPLE AND ECONOMY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS | CHAPTER- 16 | WATER RESOURCES | EDUGROWN |

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 16 WATER RESOURCES NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS for Class 12 GEOGRAPHY INDIA- PEOPLE AND ECONOMY which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These MCQS  can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON WATER RESOURCES

Question  1.
Why is the demand of water for irrigation increasing day by day in India ? Explain any three reasons.
Answer:
In agriculture, water is mainly used for irrigation.

• Irrigation is needed due to variable rainfall in India.
• Drought prone areas like N-W India and Deccan needs irrigation.
• Dry seasons of winter and summer need irrigation for agriculture.
• Irrigation is needed during dry season.
• Certain crops like rice, sugarcane, jute require large water supply.
• Multiple cropping needs irrigation.
• HYV crops need regular water supply.
• Success of green revolution depends upon irrigation.

Question 2.
Give examples of Recycling and Reuse of Water.
Answer:
Recycle and Reuse of Water. Another way through which we can improve fresh water availability is by recycle and reuse. Use of water of lesser quality such as reclaimed waste-water would be an attractive option for industries for cooling and fire fighting to reduce their water cost. Similarly, in urban areas water after bathing and washing utensils can be used for gardening.

Water used for washing vehicle can also be used for gardening. This would conserve better quality of water for drinking purposes. Currently, recycling of water is practised on a limited scale. However, there is enormous scope for replenishing water through recycling.

Question 3.
What are the two water problems in India ? Explain with suitable examples.
Or
Why is the quality of water deteriorating in India? Explain with ‘ examples.
Answer:
Due to increase in population, the availability of water is decreasing. The two main water problems are:
(i) Deterioration of Water Quality : Quality refers to purity of water, or water without unwanted foreign substances. Water gets polluted by foreign matters such as micro-organisms, chemical, industrial and other wastes. Such matters deteriorate the quality of water and render it unfit for human use.

When toxic substances enter lakes, streams, rivers, oceans and other water bodies, they get dissolved or lie suspended in water. This results in pollution of water whereby quality of water deteriorates affecting aquatic systems. Sometimes, these pollutants also seep into earth and pollute groundwater. The Ganga and the Yamuna are the two highly polluted rivers in the country.

(ii) Water Conservation and Management :
Since there is a declining availability of fresh water and increasing demand, the need has arisen to conserve and effectively manage this precious life giving resource for sustainable development. Given that water availability from sea/ocean, due to high cost of desalinisation, is considered negligible,
India has to take quick steps and make effective policies and laws, and adopt effective measures for its conservation.

Besides developing water saving technologies and methods, attempts are also to be made to prevent the pollution. There is need to encourage watershed development, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reuse, and conjunctive use of water for sustaining water supply in long run.

Question 4.
Describe the main features of India’s National Water Policy.
Answer:
Highlights of India’s National Water Policy, 2002 : The National Water Policy, 2002 stipulates water allocation priorities broadly in the following order: drinking water, irrigation, hydro-power, navigation, industrial and other uses. The policy stipulates progressive new approaches to water management. Key features include:

(1) Irrigation and multi-purpose projects should invariably include drinking water component, wherever there is no alternative source of drinking water.
(2) Providing drinking water to all human beings and animals should be the first priority.
(3) Measures should be taken to limit and regulate the exploitation of groundwater.
(4) Both surface and groundwater should be regularly monitored for quality. A phased programme should be undertaken for improving water quality.
(5) The efficiency of utilisation in all the diverse uses of water should be improved.
(6) Awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered.
(7) Conservation consciousness should be promoted through education, regulation, incentives and disincentives.

Question 5.
Describe the methods and effects of Rainwater Harvesting.
Answer:
Rainwater Harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is a method of capturing and storing rainwater for various uses. It is also used to recharge groundwater aquifers.

• It is a low cost and eco¬friendly technique for preserving every drop of water by guiding the rain water to bore well, pits and wells.
• Rainwater harvesting increases water availability.
• It checks the declining ground water table.
• It improves the quality of groundwater through dilution of contaminants like fluoride and nitrates.
• It prevents soil erosion, and flooding and arrests salt water intrusion in coastal areas if used to recharge aquifers.

Methods. Rainwater harvesting has been practised through various methods by different communities in the country for a long time. Traditional rainwater harvesting in rural areas is done by using surface storage bodies like lakes, ponds, irrigation tanks, etc.

In Rajasthan, rainwater harvesting structures locally known as Kund or Tanka (a covered underground tank) are constructed near or in the house or village to store harvested rainwater to understand various ways of rainwater harvesting.

Effects. There is a wide scope to use rainwater harvesting technique to conserve precious water resource. It can be done by harvesting rainwater on rooftops and open spaces. Harvesting rainwater also decreases the community dependence on groundwater for domestic use.

Besides bridging the demand supply gap, it can also save energy to pump groundwater as recharge leads to rise in groundwater table. These days rainwater harvesting is being taken up on massive scale in many states in the country. Urban areas can specially benefit from rainwater harvesting as water demand has already outstripped supply in most of the cities and towns.

Question 6.
What is Water Pollution ? Discuss- the methods and rules to check it. ;
Answer:
Prevention of Water Pollution. Available water resources are degrading rapidly.
(1) The major rivers of the country generally retain better water quality in less densely populated upper stretches in hilly areas.

(2) In plains, river water is used intensively for irrigation, drinking, domestic and industrial purposes. The drains carrying agricultural (fertilisers and insecticides), domestic (solid and liquid wastes), and industrial effluents join the rivers.

(3) The concentration of pollutants in rivers, especially remains very high during the summer season when the flow of water is low.

Polluted Rivers. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards has been monitoring water quality of national aquatic resources at 507 stations. The data obtained from these stations show that organic and bacterial contamination continues to be the main source of pollution in rivers.

The Yamuna river is the most polluted river in the country between Delhi and Etawah. Other severely polluted rivers are : the Sabarmati at Ahmedabad, the Gomti at Lucknow, the Kali, the Adyar, the Cooum (entire stretches), the Vaigai at Madurai and the Musi of Hyderabad and the Ganga at Kanpur and Varanasi. Groundwater pollution has occurred due to high concentrations of heavy/toxic metals, fluoride and nitrates at different parts of the country.

Question 7.
Examine the success of watershed management in Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh.
Answer:
A case study for Water Shed Management Location: Jhabua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. It is, in fact, one of the five most backward districts of the country. It is characterised by high concentration of tribal population (mostly Bhils).

Problems: The people suffer due to poverty which has been accentuated by the high rate of resource degradation, both forest and land. The watershed management programmes funded by both the ministries of “Rural Development” and “Agriculture”, Government of India, have been successfully implemented in Jhabua district which has gone a long way in preventing land degradation and improving soil quality.

Programmes: Watershed Management Programmes acknowledge the linkage between land, water and vegetation and attempts to improve livelihoods of people through natural resource management and community participation. In the past five years, the programmes funded by the Ministry of Rural Development alone (implemented by Rajiv Gandhi Mission for Watershed Management) has treated 20 per cent of the total area under Jhabua district.

The Petlawad block of Jhabua is located in the northernmost part of the district and represents an interesting and successful case of Government-NGO partnership and community participation in managing watershed programmes. The Bhils in Petlawad block, for example (Sat Rundi hamlet of Karravat village), through their own efforts, have revitalised large parts of common property resources. Each household planted and maintained one tree on the common property.

They also have planted fodder grass on the pasture land and adopted social-fencing of these lands for at least two years. Even after that, they say, there would be no open grazing on these lands, but stall feeding of cattle, and they are thus confident that the pastures they have developed would sustain their cattle in future.

Question 8.
Explain any three factors responsible for depletion of water resources. Examine any two legislative measures for controlling water pollution in India.
Answer:
Depletion of water resources:

Water resources in India are very rapidly decreasing. It is due to the following reasons:

• The use of water is increasing due to increasing population.
• The Industrial sector is using water resources at a fast rate.
• Water is used for irrigation to increase the agricultural productivity.
• Water pollution is increasing.

Legislative measures :
(i) The legislative provisions such as the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Environment Protection Act 1986, have not been implemented effectively.

(ii) The Water Cess Act 1977, meant to reduce pollution has also made marginal impacts. There is a strong need to generate public awareness about the importance of water and the impacts of water pollution. The public awareness and action can be very effective in reducing the pollutants from agricultural activities, domestic and industrial discharge.

Question 9.
Analyse the economic and social values of rainwater harvesting.
Answer:
Economic and Social values of rainwater.

• It meets the ever increasing demand of water.
• It prevents the flooding of roads.
• It help to save energy.
• It helps in the economic development of a country.
• It reduces groundwater pollution.

Question 10.
Describe the Jal Kranti Abhiyan.
Answer:
In 2015-16 the Government of India launched the Jal Kranti Abhiyan with an aim to ensure water security through per capita availability of water in our country. In different regions of India people had practised their traditional knowledge of water conservation to ensure water availability. This Abhiyan aims at involving local bodies, NGO, etc. regarding its objectives.

Following are some activities of this Abhiyan:

• One water stressed village is selection in each 672 districts of the country to generate a Jal Gram.
• Abatement of pollution.
• Trough social media creating mass awarness.