๐ Class 10 Geography – Chapter 3
๐ง Water Resources
๐ Water
- Three-fourths (3/4th) of Earth’s surface is covered with water.
- Only a small proportion is freshwater ๐ฆ (usable for humans).
- Water = Renewable Resource (เคจเคตीเคเคฐเคฃीเคฏ เคธंเคธाเคงเคจ).
๐ฑ Water Scarcity & Need for Conservation
⚡ Reasons for Water Scarcity (เคเคฒ เคธंเคเค):
- Over-exploitation (เค เคค्เคฏเคงिเค เคฆोเคนเคจ) of water.
- Excessive use in agriculture & industries.
- Unequal access among different social groups.
- Poor quality of available water in some regions.
⚡ Why Conserve & Manage Water?
- Protect health from water-borne diseases ๐ฆ .
- Ensure food security ๐พ.
- Continue livelihoods & productive activities.
- Prevent ecosystem degradation (เคชाเคฐिเคธ्เคฅिเคคिเคी เคคंเคค्เคฐ เคा เค्เคทเคฐเคฃ).
๐️ Multi-Purpose River Projects & Integrated Water Management
- Ancient India: conserved water by building reservoirs, lakes, canals & embankments.
- Modern India: continues this tradition by constructing dams (เคฌांเคง) across river basins.
๐️ Dams
๐ Definition:
A dam is a barrier built across flowing water ๐ that obstructs, directs, or slows the flow, creating a reservoir/lake.
✅ Uses of Dams:
- Irrigation (เคृเคทि เคธिंเคाเค).
- Electricity generation ⚡.
- Water supply (domestic & industrial).
- Flood control ๐.
- Recreation, navigation ๐ข, and fish breeding ๐.
⚠️ Side Effects of Dams:
- Disturbs natural river flow → harms aquatic life ๐ .
- Submerges vegetation & soil ๐ฑ.
- Displacement of local people ๐️.
- Triggered environmental movements:
- Narmada Bachao Andolan ✊
- Tehri Dam Andolan ✊
- Instead of controlling, dams sometimes cause floods.
- Soil erosion, earthquakes, pests & pollution increase.
✅ Exam Tip:
Prepare examples of movements (NBA, Tehri) + uses & problems of dams → these are frequent board exam questions.
๐ง Rain Water Harvesting (เคตเคฐ्เคทा เคเคฒ เคธंเคเคฏเคจ)
๐ฆ️ Meaning (เค เคฐ्เคฅ)
- A simple method in which rainfall is collected for future usage.
- Stored rainwater can be used for:
- Drinking ๐ฐ
- Irrigation ๐พ
- Recharge of groundwater ๐
๐️ Methods of Rainwater Harvesting in India
⛰️ Hill & Mountainous Regions
- ‘Guls’ / ‘Kuls’ in Western Himalayas → diversion channels for agriculture.
๐ Rooftop Harvesting (Rajasthan)
- Common for drinking water storage.
- Especially important in water-scarce areas like Rajasthan.
๐ Flood Plains of Bengal
- Inundation channels (เคเคฒ-เคญเคฐाเคต เคจเคนเคฐें) → irrigate fields during floods.
๐ต Arid & Semi-Arid Regions (Rajasthan)
- Fields converted into rain-fed storage structures.
- Examples:
- Khadins (Jaisalmer) ๐พ
- Johads (other parts of Rajasthan) ๐ง
๐️ Tankas (Rajasthan – Bikaner, Phalodi, Barmer)
- Underground tanks inside houses/courtyards.
- Store rainwater & also keep underground rooms cool during summer ❄️.
๐️ Tamil Nadu – First State
- Made rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory for all houses ๐ .
- Legal punishment for defaulters ⚖️.
⭐ Importance of Rainwater Harvesting
- Reduces water scarcity ๐ฑ.
- Recharges groundwater ๐.
- Ensures drinking water supply ๐ง.
- Environment-friendly & sustainable ๐ฑ.
✅ Exam Tip:
Always remember Tamil Nadu → 1st state to make rooftop RWH compulsory.
Also examples of Kuls, Khadins, Johads, Tankas are frequent short-answer questions.
