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1. Banganga 

2. Indira Gandhi Canal 

3. Jaisamand Lake 

4. Temples of Modern India

One of the major reasons the multi-purpose projects were opposed was that it could not complete the purpose it was built for:

1) One of its purposes was to avoid floods. Instead, it is found that these multi-purpose projects aggravated the flood water which led to the loss of lives and soil erosion.

2) It disturbed the lives of people living by rehabilitating them.

3) It does not satisfy the socio-economic principles whereas the rainwater harvesting system does.

4) Environmentally rainwater harvesting systems are considered more environmentally friendly compared to multi-purpose projects.

(1) Advantages:  

(i) Multi-purpose projects launched after independence with their integrated water resources management approach, were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to the path of development and progress, overcoming the handicap of its colonial past.

(ii) Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the temples of modern India: the reason being that it would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy.

(iii) Dams were built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to irrigate agricultural fields.

(iv) Hydro-electricity is also generated which is provided to industries to run machines.

(v) Dams control floods at the time of excessive rainfall.

(vi) It protects the devastation of life and property and soil does not get eroded.

(2) Disadvantages

(i) Multipurpose project affects the natural flow of water.

(ii) It cause the excessive sediments at the bottom of the river which makes stream beds rockier.

(iii) It causes the poor habitat of aquatic life.multi purpose projects causes no migration of aquatic fauna.

(iv) The dam submerged the vegetation and soil at the both of the bank of the river and causes flood plains

(v) Multipurpose projects also causes new social movement like Narmada bachaoandolan.

(1) Advantages:  

(i) Multi-purpose projects launched after independence with their integrated water resources management approach, were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to the path of development and progress, overcoming the handicap of its colonial past.

(ii) Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the temples of modern India: the reason being that it would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy.

(iii) Dams were built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to irrigate agricultural fields.

(iv) Hydro-electricity is also generated which is provided to industries to run machines.

(v) Dams control floods at the time of excessive rainfall.

(vi) It protects the devastation of life and property and soil does not get eroded.

(2) Disadvantages

(i) Multipurpose project affects the natural flow of water.

(ii) It cause the excessive sediments at the bottom of the river which makes stream beds rockier.

(iii) It causes the poor habitat of aquatic life.multi purpose projects causes no migration of aquatic fauna.

(iv) The dam submerged the vegetation and soil at the both of the bank of the river and causes flood plains

(v) Multipurpose projects also causes new social movement like Narmada bachaoandolan.

Multipurpose river valley projects generally refer to large dams that serve several purposes in addition to impounding the water of a river. The water blocked is used for various purposes. 

The following are the four objectives of multi-purpose river valley projects.

(i) Irrigation of water deficit areas

(ii) Electricity generation

(iii) Flood control

(iv) Water supply for domestic and industrial uses

(v) Recreation

(vi) Inland navigation

(vii) Fish breeding

A river valley project which provides many benefits simultaneously at the same time is known as a multi-purpose project. Purposes served by multi-purpose project are as follows :

(i) They help in generating hydro-electricity.

(ii) They help in controlling floods.

(iii) They provide water for irrigation.

(iv) Multi-purpose projects are used for inland navigation and fish breeding.

 Correct Answer is : (C) Mahanadi

River Narmada

Project managed by Central Government: Bhakra Nangal, Rihand, Damodar, Hirakud, Kosi, Tehri, etc.

Projects managed by state governments: Chambal Project (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan), Nagarjuna Sagar Project (Andhra Pradesh), Tungbhadra Project (Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka), Sardar Sarovar Project (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan), Mayurakshi & Farakka Projects (West Bengal), Mahi Project (Gujarat and Rajasthan), Gandak Project (Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), Machchhkund Project (Andhra Pradesh and Odisha), etc.

Barkhera, Bhadravati, Machi, Bhainsawat and Ata.

(D) Hirakud Dam

Rajasthan gets scanty rainfall and hence is deficient in water. Hence, Rajasthan needs multipurpose dam projects to ensure adequate supply of water for its people.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had termed these multipurpose projects as the temples of modern India.

Indira Gandhi Canal

Correct Answer is : (A) Bundi

Mahi Bajaj Project

(D) Chittorgarh

(C) Barmer and Jaisalmer

A barrage is a dam with sluice gates behind which water is retained before being released through the sluice gates.

Gadisar and Gajrupsagar are famous  in Jaisalmer district.

Western Rajasthan

Correct Answer is : (A) Khadin

Availability of water even during lean seasons.

Groundwater .

Correct Answer is : (C) 30%

Correct Answer is : (D) 97%

Antarctica and Greenland in the form of icesheets.

In the form of glaciers in high mountains.

Three-fourth.

Very less, only 2.5 %.

About 3/4th of the earth surface is covered with water.

About 3/4 portion of our earth surface is covered with water.

71% of the earths surface is covered with water.

(1) Public awareness: People should be made aware about water scarcity. At the time of sufficient availability of water, people do not use it wisely. Either it is wasted or misused by the people. Media can play an important role in bringing awareness among the people by making documentary film, advertisements, etc.

(2) Conservation of water: The tendency of conserving water need to be developed among the masses. People’s participation or initiatives are essential to conserve water. They should understand that every drop of water needs to be conserved.

(3) Importance of water: People should be made aware of the drastic effects of water scarcity. People need to be taught to stop the others whom they found wasting or polluting the water. It is essential that people should be sensitive enough towards the importance of water.

(1) There is a situation when water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people but the area still suffers from water scarcity. This scarcity may be due to bad quality of water.

(2) Water gets polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture, thus, making it hazardous for human use.

(3) India’s rivers have turned into toxic streams.

(4) The assault on India’s rivers—from population growth, agricultural modernization, urbanization and industrialization is enormous and growing day-by -day.

Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project is a joint project of Rajasthan and Gujarat and was started in 1971 on Mahi River. The Mahi River originates from the Vindhyachal mountains. This project was initiated to develop irrigation facilities and electricity supply for development of tribal areas of Dungarpur and Banswara which come in the course of Mahi River. The Mahi Bajaj Sagar Concrete Dam was build at Borkhera of Banswara in Rajasthan. Kadana Dam was built by the Gujarat government. The Kagdi Pickup Dam was built 500 km downwards from the main dam; in order to develop a canal system. Two power stations were built on the main dam to develop electricity generation and supplv.

Jakham Dam has been built at Anuppura on Jakham River. This project was developed to facilitate development of Chittorgarh, Udaipur and tribal areas of Pratapgarh; through irrigation facilities. A canal system was developed in Nagaria village through pickup dam about 13 km from the main dam.

These are rectangular, square or circular reservoirs of water. The reservoir can be accessed by steps made of bricks or ornate stones and hence are also called stepwells. The reservoir is surrounded by a courtyard. The steps are decorated with ornate railings, pillars and balconies. The balconies are adorned with local deities related to water. Construction of baoris in Rajasthan was done at individual and social levels. Baoris are found in all districts of Rajasthan.

(i) In hilly and mountainous regions, people build diversion channels like 'gul' or 'kul' in Western Himalaya for agriculture.

(ii) Roof-top rainwater harvesting was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan.

(iii) In West Bengal, people develop inundation channels to irrigate their fields.

(iv) In semi-arid regions, agricultural fields are converted into rainfed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moist the soil.

(1) The rainwater stored in tanks’ is an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources are dried up.

(2) Rainwater is considered the purest form of natural water.

(3) Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the tanks to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.

(4) There is lack of perennial rivers in Rajasthan.

(5) The rainfall is not reliable in this region.

Rooftop harvesting, rain-fed storage structures and tankas.

Explanation: Rooftop harvesting was one of the traditional systems commonly followed in Rajasthan where the rainwater falling on the roof would go through a pipe and get collected in a container. The second method was to store the water in the agricultural fields. Tankas were another form of rain harvesting system used in Rajasthan where large tanks also known as tankas were used to store water.

Keeping into view the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi-purpose projects, water harvesting system is considered a viable alternative both socio-economically and environmentally.

(i) In ancient India also along with the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition of various water harvesting systems.

(ii) People adopted different techniques in different areas. In hilly regions, people built diversion channels like the 'guis' or 'kuls' for agriculture.

(iii) Roof-top rainwater harvesting was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan.

(iv) In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. Khadins, Johads and Tanks are the forms of rainwater harvesting practised in Rajasthan.

Roof top water harvesting is important in Rajasthan because:

(i) It was commonly practised to store drinking water.

(ii) The rainwater can be stored in the tanks till the next rainfall, making it an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources are dried up, particularly in the summers.

(iii) Rain water, or palar pani, as commonly referred to in these parts, is considered the purest form of natural water.

(iv) Many houses construct underground rooms adjoining the 'tanka' to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.

(v) Some houses still maintain the tanks since they do not like the taste of tap water.

(i) In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks for storing drinking water.

They are an extremely reliable source of drinking water when other sources are dried up. This is considered the purest form of natural water.

(ii) The tanks can be as large as big rooms.

(iii) The tanks were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

(iv) The tank was built inside the main house or the courtyard giving a cooling effect to the rooms in the summer.

(v) Those tanks were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.

(vi) Rain falling on these rooftops would travel down the pipe and stored in these underground tanks.

(vii) Usually, first rainwater is not collected to clean the rooftop and the pipe.

Houses in the semi arid regions of Rajasthan have traditionally constructed tanks for storing drinking water. They are big and are a part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system. The tanks are constructed inside the main house or the courtyard, and are connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The rain falling on the rooftop travels down and is stored in the tanks. The first spell of rain is not collected as this water cleans the roof and the pipes. The rainwater from the subsequent spells is collected. This water is used till the next rainy season, and is reliable source of water even after other sources have dried up. The tanks also help in cooling the houses as rooms built around them have generally low temperatures due to conduction. 

Water scarcity may be an outcome of a large and growing population and resulting in greater demands for water, and unequal access to it. A large population means more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. Hence, to facilitate higher food-grain production, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry-season agriculture. After independence, India has witnessed the major intensive urbanization and industrialization, for creating major employment opportunities. The ever-increasing number of industries has made matters worse by exerting pressure on existing freshwater resources. Industries, apart from being heavy users of water, also require power to run them. Much of this energy comes from hydroelectric power. 

The water scarcity is not only the problem of low rainfall areas it is also a problem of the heavy rainfall areas. Chirapunji is the place which is famous for the highest rainfall in the country is 55km away from Meghalaya even then the area faces the water scarcity. This scarcity is because of the lack of a storage facility. When the fresh water storage facility is not available in the area then the area faces the water scarcity even then the area has the highest rainfall. But in low rainfall areas, there will be less water scarcity this is because of the efficient management of the water and rainwater harvesting. Therefore the water not only depends on the rainwater but also efficient management and storage of the water in the specified areas.

The biggest example is the floods in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2006 which had occurred because of the aggravation of floods on opening the doors of dams. This not only led to the loss of lives but also led to soil erosion and disruption in the lives of people.

Water scarcity: Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demand for water usage within a region.

Reasons behind water scarcity in India                                

The water scarcity is mostly man made due to excess population growth and mismanagement of water resources. Some of the major reasons for water scarcity are:

(a) Inefficient use of water for agriculture. India is among the top growers of agricultural produce in the world and therefore the consumption of water for irrigation is amongst the highest. Traditional techniques of irrigation causes maximum water loss due to evaporation, drainage, percolation, water conveyance, and excess use of groundwater. As more areas come under traditional irrigation techniques, the stress for water available for other purposes will continue. The solution lies in extensive use of micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation.

(b)Reduction in traditional water recharging areas. Rapid construction is ignoring traditional water bodies that have also acted as ground water recharging mechanism. We need to urgently revive traditional aquifers while implementing new ones

(c) Sewage and wastewater drainage into traditional water bodies. Government intervention at the source is urgently required if this problem is to be tackled.

(d) Release of chemicals and effluents into rivers, streams and ponds. Strict monitoring and implementation of laws by the government, NGOs and social activists is required

According to Fallen Mark, water stress occurs when water availability is between 1,000 and 1,600 cubic meter per person per year.

Global Precipitation and renewable water sources

Explanation: 

The two major causes are: 

1) India receives only 4% of global precipitation 

2) There are only 1,897 sq. km per annum total renewable water resources in India. The above two causes are the one due to which many places in India today are scarce in water.

A Swedish expert, Falken Mark defines water stress as a situation where the water availability is less than 1000 m³ per person per day. Thus, the stress on account of water shortage or inundation produces strain and leads to fissure or cracks on the ground is called water stress.

(1) Rainwater harvesting is a technique of increasing the recharge of ground-water by capturing and storing rainwater by constructing structures such as dug wells, percolation pits and check dams.

(2) (i) Tamil Nadu has made this system compulsory to all the houses across the state.

(ii) There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters.