Extra 30 short answer questions (2-3 marks each) from the Water Resources chapter of Class 10 CBSE Geography:
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1. What is water scarcity?
Answer: Water scarcity refers to the shortage of water due to overuse, uneven distribution, and depletion of freshwater sources. It can be caused by population growth, industrialization, and deforestation.
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2. Mention two causes of water scarcity in India.
Answer:
1. Over-exploitation of groundwater due to increasing population and agricultural needs.
2. Unequal distribution of rainfall, leading to drought-prone areas.
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3. What are the main sources of freshwater?
Answer: The main sources of freshwater are rivers, lakes, glaciers, groundwater, ponds, and rainwater.
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4. What are the different causes of water pollution?
Answer:
1. Industrial waste discharge into water bodies.
2. Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers.
3. Domestic sewage and plastic waste.
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5. What is a multipurpose river project? Give an example.
Answer: A multipurpose river project is a dam or reservoir built to serve multiple purposes like irrigation, hydroelectricity, flood control, and drinking water supply. Example: Bhakra Nangal Dam on the Sutlej River.
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6. What are the advantages of multipurpose projects?
Answer:
1. Provide irrigation for agriculture.
2. Generate hydroelectricity for industries and households.
3. Control floods by regulating river flow.
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7. What are the disadvantages of large dams?
Answer:
1. Displacement of local communities.
2. Loss of biodiversity and deforestation.
3. High cost of construction and maintenance.
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8. What is the Narmada Bachao Andolan?
Answer: It is a social movement led by Medha Patkar against the construction of large dams on the Narmada River, especially the Sardar Sarovar Dam, due to displacement of people and environmental concerns.
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9. What is rainwater harvesting?
Answer: Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater for future use, usually in tanks, reservoirs, or by recharging groundwater.
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10. Why is rainwater harvesting important?
Answer:
1. Helps recharge groundwater levels.
2. Reduces dependence on external water sources.
3. Prevents water wastage and promotes conservation.
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11. What are the different methods of rainwater harvesting?
Answer:
1. Rooftop rainwater harvesting – collecting rainwater from rooftops into storage tanks.
2. Recharge pits – allowing rainwater to seep into the ground to recharge groundwater.
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12. Name two traditional water harvesting systems in India.
Answer:
1. Johads (Rajasthan) – earthen check dams to store rainwater.
2. Kuls (Himachal Pradesh) – water channels for irrigation.
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13. What is the significance of groundwater?
Answer:
1. Provides drinking water for rural and urban areas.
2. Used for irrigation in agriculture.
3. Acts as a natural reservoir during dry seasons.
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14. What are the effects of over-extraction of groundwater?
Answer:
1. Lowering of the water table.
2. Drying up of wells and tube wells.
3. Soil degradation and land subsidence.
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15. How do dams help in flood control?
Answer: Dams store excess water during heavy rains and release it in a controlled manner, preventing sudden floods in downstream areas.
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16. What is the main purpose of the Tehri Dam?
Answer: The Tehri Dam, built on the Bhagirathi River, serves multiple purposes, including irrigation, hydroelectricity production, and flood control.
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17. Why is water conservation necessary?
Answer:
1. Ensures sustainable water availability.
2. Prevents depletion of water sources.
3. Reduces the effects of drought and water scarcity.
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18. What are the causes of groundwater depletion?
Answer:
1. Overuse for irrigation.
2. Deforestation reducing groundwater recharge.
3. Increasing urbanization and industrialization.
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19. What is the Indira Gandhi Canal?
Answer: The Indira Gandhi Canal is one of India's longest canals, providing irrigation to arid regions of Rajasthan using water from the Sutlej and Beas rivers.
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20. How do multipurpose projects affect the environment?
Answer:
1. Submerge large forest areas.
2. Disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
3. Cause displacement of wildlife and local communities.
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21. What is the role of hydroelectricity in India?
Answer:
1. Provides a renewable and clean source of energy.
2. Reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
3. Helps in rural electrification.
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22. Why are small dams preferred over large dams?
Answer:
1. Cause less displacement of people.
2. Are more cost-effective and easier to maintain.
3. Have less environmental impact.
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23. Name two rivers where multipurpose projects are built in India.
Answer:
1. Sutlej River – Bhakra Nangal Dam.
2. Krishna River – Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.
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24. How do industries contribute to water scarcity?
Answer:
1. Overuse of groundwater for production.
2. Pollution of rivers and lakes with industrial waste.
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25. How do forests help in water conservation?
Answer:
1. Help in groundwater recharge by allowing rainwater to seep in.
2. Prevent soil erosion and maintain water cycles.
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26. What is the Sardar Sarovar Dam?
Answer: It is a large dam built on the Narmada River in Gujarat, providing irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectricity.
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27. What is the main objective of the Ganga Action Plan?
Answer: To reduce pollution in the Ganga River by treating industrial and domestic waste before it enters the river.
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28. Why should we avoid overuse of tube wells and bore wells?
Answer:
1. Leads to depletion of groundwater levels.
2. Affects soil quality and increases salinity.
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29. How can urban areas contribute to water conservation?
Answer:
1. Implement rainwater harvesting in buildings.
2. Promote wastewater treatment and reuse.
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30. What are check dams, and why are they important?
Answer: Check dams are small barriers built across streams to slow down water flow, prevent erosion, and recharge groundwater.
