2. WATER FOR ALL
o Water is one of the prime element responsible for life on
earth.
o 97 % of the water on the earth is salt water only 2.5 of the
total water on the earth is exists as fresh water, o Around 70
% of fresh water is frozen in glaciers and ice sheets.
o Only 30 % of water is stored as ground water, o Around
0.3 % of the total fresh water exists in rivers, lakes,
streams, ponds and springs are natural sources of water.
o The water pollution are caused by increasing
industrialization and human activities.
o Mostly the water bodies get polluted by industrial,
municipal and agricultural wastes.
3. o Rains in India are
largely due to the
monsoons, o The
monsoon of South Asia is
among several
geographically distributed
global monsoons, o It
affects the Indian
subcontinent, o Most of
the rain falls in a few
months of the year i.e.
from June to September.
• Ut
.1 MYANMAR
f
n
INDIA
ANNUAL RAINFALL
tatMCHM
F”'
™,FU#C'MUOIUM
LEGEND
Average
Annual Rainfall
(In centimeters)
800 - 1000
o 400 - 800
□ 200 - 400
160 • 200
□ 120 - 160
□ 100 - 120
o 80 • 100
□ 60 - 80
□ 40 - 60
□ 20 - 40
0 - 20
4. Irrigation in India
o Irrigation in India includes a network of major and minor
canals from Indian rivers, groundwater well based systems,
tanks, and other rainwater harvesting projects for
agricultural activities.
o During ancient time irrigation system were managed by
local people.
o The use of stored water was strictly regulated, o The
optimum cropping patterns was based on the availability of
water and on the basis of decades/ centuries of experience.
o The maintenance of these irrigation systems was a local
affair.
5. o The arrival of the British changed the irrigation systems.
o The conception of large scale projects - large dams and
canals traversing large distances were first conceived
and implemented by the British.
o Mega-projects led to the neglect of the local irrigation
methods.
o After independence the government took over the
administration of these systems leading to the loss of
control over the local water sources by the local people.
6. enefits of Large Dams
o Storage of adequate
water for irrigation
o Hydro power generation
c Water for drinking and
industrial use
o Flood control
o Inland navigation
o Recreation
Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand
7. Disadvantages of Constructing Dams
Disadvantages
1 Social problems - Displacement of large number of
peasants and tribal without adequate compensation or
rehabilitation.
2 Economic problems - Swallow up huge amounts of public
money without the generation of proportionate benefits.
3 Environmental problems - Deforestation and the loss of
biological diversity.
8. Issues for construction of dams
c The following issues to be settled during construction of
dams : -
o Resettlement and Rehabilitation
o Environment and forests
a Sedimentary issues
o Socio economic issues
c Safety aspects
9. Water Harvesting
c Water harvesting means capturing rain where it falls or
collection of runoff for productive purposes.
o It also takes measure to keep that water clean by not
allowing polluting activities to take place in the catchment.
c Watershed management emphasises scientific
conservation of soil and water.
o Objectives of watershed management
❖ increases the production and income of the watershed
community
❖ mitigates droughts and floods
❖ increases the life of the downstream dam and
reservoirs
10. Ancient Water
Harvesting System
Age old water harvesting systems in India:-
o Rajasthan - Khadins, tanks and nadis
o Maharashtra - Bandharas and tals
o Uttar Pradesh & M.P. - Bundhis
o Bihar - Ahars and pynes
o Himachal Pradesh - Kulhs
o Kandi belt of Jammu region - Ponds
o Tamil Nadu - Eris (tanks)
o Kerala - Surangams
o Karnataka - Kattas
12. Advantages of
Stored Water
The advantages of water stored in the ground are:
o It does not evaporate, but spreads out to recharge wells
o It provides moisture for vegetation over a wide area,
o It does not provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes
like stagnant water collected in ponds or artificial lakes,
o The ground-water is relatively protected from
contamination by human and animal waste.
13. Think and Plan
o Why do we need to conserve water?
o What are the ways to conserve water?
o Make a poster for conservation of water.
c Write a slogan on ‘water conservation’.
