Q1. What is Palar Pani"?
Ans: In the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, rainwater is considered as the purest form of natural water, this rain water is commonly known as Palar Pani.

Q2. Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.
Ans: Three-fourth of the earth's surface is covered with water, but only a small proportion of it is freshwater that can be used. This freshwater is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water that is continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle or the water cycle. In this cycle majorly three processes that takes place, i.e. Evaporation, condensation and precipitation. The process of water cycle is never ending thus making water a renewable resource.

Q3. Mention some of the facts and figures about water.
Ans: Following are some of the facts and figures about water
(a) Out of total volume of water on earth; 97.5% exists in oceans and seas.
(b) About 2.5% of total water is available as freshwater.
(c) 70% of total freshwater is present as frozen ice in icebergs and glaciers.
(d) A little less than 30% of total freshwater is stored as groundwater.
(e) India receives about 4% of global precipitation.
(f) India ranks 133rd in the world in terms of water availability per person per annum.
(g) The total renewable water resources in India are estimated at 1,897 sq km per annum.
(h) It is predicted that large parts of India will join regions with absolute water scarcity; by 2025.

Q4. Explain the following:
(a) Bamboo Drip Irrigation System
(b) Guls & Kuls
(c) Khadins & Johads
Ans:
(a) Bamboo Drip Irrigation System: Bamboo drip irrigation system is a 200 year old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipe. Bamboo drip irrigation system is practiced in Meghalaya.

(b) Guls & Kuls: In Western Himalayas people build diversion channels like 'Guls' or 'Kuls' for the agricultural purpose.

(c) Khadins & Johads: In the arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to sand and moisten the soil, these water storage structures are known as Khadins in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and Johads in other parts of Rajasthan.

Q5. What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?
Ans: Scarcity of water means shortage of water or in other words if the demand of water is much more than the supply of water; it leads to Scarcity of water. Some of the causes for water scarcity are:
(a) Overpopulation.
(b) Urbanization.
(c) Industrialization.
(d) Increase in agricultural production.
(e) Over-exploitation and mismanagement of water.
(f) Water Pollution.
(g) Variation in the seasonal and annual precipitation.

Q6. What are the main purposes of constructing multipurpose river dam projects?
Ans: Following are some of the main purposes of multipurpose river dam projects:
(a) Generating Hydroelectricity.
(b) Flood Control.
(c) Development of Pisciculture.
(d) Water for agricultural use: Irrigation.
(e) Water for domestic usage.
(f) Water for Industrial usage.
(g) Soil conservation.
(h) Development of tourism.

Q7. What is the need for water conservation? Suggest some of the measures to conserve water resources.
Ans: Water is one of the most important natural resource; following are some of the reasons why water conservation is must:
(a) Water resource is limited.
(b) Water is unevenly distributed.
(c) Population is growing rapidly, so is the demand of water.
(d) Agriculture depends on water.
(e) Water plays a very vital role in the industrial sector.

Some of the measures to be taken for the conservation of water:
(a) Educating the people to avoid the over usage and wastage of water.
(b) Rain water harvesting.
(c) Constructing more water storage reservoirs.
(d) Linking of rivers, so that the water can be transferred from one to another.
(e) Interstate water disputes must be resolved.
(f) Government should take serious steps to check water mafia's.

Q8.Usage of tankas is very common in the state of Rajasthan. Mention some of the features of these 'tankas' built in the houses of Bikaner and Phalodi.
Ans:
(a) The tankas could be as large as a big room; household in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 meters deep, 4.27 meters long and 2.44 meters wide.
(b) The tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system and were built inside the main house or the courtyard.
(c) They were connected to the roofs of the houses through pipes.
(d) Rain water from the rooftops travel down the pipes and finally is stored in these underground tankas.
(e) The first spell of rain is usually not collected as this cleans the roofs and the pipes. The rainwater from the subsequent showers is then collected in the tankas.
(f) The collected water is then used whenever there is water shortage.

Q9. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.
Ans:

Q10. On the map of India locate dam's alongwith the rivers.
(A) Salal
(B) Bhakra Nangal
(C) Tehri
(D) Rana Pratap Sagar
(E) Sardar Sarovar
(F) Hirakud
(G) Nagarjuna Sagar
(H) Tungabhadra.

Ans: Refer the map given in the book and locate.

 

 

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