WBBSE Class 10 Geography Solutions Chapter 5.3 Water Resources of India

Detailed explanations in West Bengal Board Class 10 Geography Book Solutions Chapter 5.3 Water Resources of India offer valuable context and analysis.

WBBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 5.3 Question Answer – Water Resources of India

Answer in short : 2 Marks

Question 1.
Name the countries through which the river Indus flows.
Answer:
Tibet, Jammu and Kashmir of India, and Pakistan.

Question 2.
Name the five tributaries of river Indus in India.
Answer:
Rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej.

Question 3.
Name the left bank tributaries of Ganga.
Answer:
Rivers Gomoti, Ghagar, Kosi, Gandak.

Question 4.
Name the right bank tributaries of Ganga.
Answer:
Rivers Yamuna, Son, Damodar, Ajay.

Question 5.
Why is river Kosi called the Sorrow of Bihar ?
Answer:
The river Kosi causes much flood during the rainy season. Hence it is called the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’.

Question 6.
Why are the Himalayan rivers perennial ?
Answer:
The Himalayan rivers get the water supply from snow-melt water throughout the year and rainfall in the rainy season. Hence, they are perennial.

Question 7.
Name some tributaries of the river Brahmaputra.
Answer:
Rivers Subanasiri, Kameng, Manas and Sankosh on the right bank. Rivers Buridihang, Dibang, Kapili and Dhansiri on the left bank.

Question 8.
Mention the course of river Narmada.
Answer:
River Narmada rises from the Amarkantak peak of the Mahakal hills from a spring, flows through a rift valley and finally drains into the gulf of Khambat.

Question 9.
Name two rift valleys of India.
Answer:
The valleys of rivers Narmada and Tapti.

Question 10.
What do you mean by an inland river ?
Answer:
A river which has its source from a moutain or highland, flows through the land and finally drains into a lake or other inland water body, is called an inland river. Eg-River Luni of Rajasthan.

Question 11.
Write about the course of river Godavari.
Answer:
The river Godavari (1,465 km) has its source in the Trimbakeswar in the Western Ghats and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Due to its great length, it is often called the Ganga of the south.

Question 12.
What is a lake?
Answer:
A lake is a depression on the surface of the earth filled with natural water coming from rainfall, snow melt, rivers or underground water.

Question 13.
What is a Kayal or lagoon ?
Answer:
A Kayal or lagoon is a water body surrounded by land on three sides and one side connected to the sea. In many cases, sea water may get arrested by sand bars on three sides and form lagoons or kayals. Eg-Chilka lake in Odisha, Vembanad lake in Kerala.

Question 14.
What is a multi-purpose project ?
Answer:
A multi-purpose project is one in which a river is dammed for various purposes like – irrigation, flood control, generation of hydro-electricity, water transport, fisheries, controlling soil erosion, etc.

Question 15.
Which states of India are mostly irrigated by canals ?
Answer:
The states that are mostly irrigated by canals are – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, etc.

Question 16.
Which states in India are mostly irrigated by tanks ?
Answer:
Most parts of the peninsular India came under tank irrigation. The states predominated by this are – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha. Apart from these, some areas of West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat also practice tank irrigation.

Question 17.
What is the advantage of well irrigation ?
Answer:
Wells can be dug very near the fields, so that water can be provided for cultivation very easily.

Question 18.
What is the disadvantage of well irrigation?
Answer:
Wells cannot be dug where the soil is hard or the land is rocky. It is also not possible in areas where water table is very low.

Question 19.
What are inundation canals ?
Answer:
The inundation canals are those which flow during the rainy season when the rivers are in flood.

Question 20.
What are the advantages of canal irrigation?
Answer:
Canals can be divided into branches for reaching water to fields easily. Sometimes the canals can be used for fishing, navigation or other activites.

Question 21.
What are the disadvantages of canal irrigation?
Answer:
Water level in canals may rise or fall according to availability of water in different seasons. Canals cannot be drawn on hard rocky surfaces or sandy deserts.

Question 22.
What do you mean by rain water harvesting ?
Answer:
Rain water harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rain water to reuse rather than allowing it to run off. Its uses include water for gardening, livestock, irrigation, domestic use, etc. It can also be treated and used as drinking water.

Question 23.
Where does the river Indus rise?
Answer:
The river Indus rises in the springs of Sengge Khabab at an altitude of 5,180 m and about 100 km north of Manas Sarovar.

Question 24.
Name the states through which the tributaries of river Indus flow in India.
Answer:
The tributaries of river Indus flow in India through the states of JammuKashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Question 25.
Where does the river Ganga rise from ? What is it known at the source?
Answer:
The river Ganga rises from the Gomukh cave of Gangotri glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand. At the source it is known as river Bhagirathi.

Question 26.
Which is the longest river of India ?
Answer:
The longest river of India is river Ganga. It flows through India for 2,071 km out of the total length of 2,510 km.

Question 27.
Where does the river Yamuna rise?
Answer:
The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri glacier of Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It meets with river Ganga as a right bank tributary in Allahabad.

Question 28.
Which two rivers meet to form river Ganga ?
Answer:
Rivers Bhagirathi and Alokananda meet at the Dev Prayag to form river Ganga.

Question 29.
Why are the Himalayan rivers called Antecedent rivers ?
Answer:
The Himalayan rivers like Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra existed even before the emergence of the Himalayan mountains. The rise of the mountains have only changed the courses of the rivers. Thus, these rivers are called antecedent rivers.

Question 30.
Name the states thrugh which river Ganga flows in India.
Answer:
The river Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

Question 31.
Name the states through which river Brahmaputra flows in India.
Answer:
The river Brahmaputra flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India.

Question 32.
Name four tributaries of river Narmada.
Answer:

• Hiran
• Barna
• Orsang
• Kolar.

Question 33.
Through which states does the river Narmada flow ?
Answer:
The river Narmada flows through Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Question 34.
Name two west flowing rivers of India.
Answer:
Narmada and Tapti.

Question 35.
On which side of the Satpura range is the river Narmada situated ?
Answer:
River Narmada lies to the north of the Satpura range.

Question 36.
Name a famous waterfall on the river Narmada.
Answer:
Dhuandhar waterfalls near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

Question 37.
Where does river Tapti rise?
Answer:
River Tapti rises from a hot spring called Multai in the Mahadev hills of Madhya Pradesh.

Question 38.
Name four tributaries of river Tapti.
Answer:

• Purna
• Girna
• Bori
• Bheghar.

Question 39.
Which is the highest waterfall of India ?
Answer:
The highest waterfall is the Jog waterfalls on river Sharavati in Karnataka. It is 275 m high.

Question 40.
Mention the course of river Mahanadi.
Answer:
River Mahanadi rises from the Shihawa hills of Rampur district of Chattisgarh and flows into the Bay of Bengal.

Question 41.
Through which states does river Mahanadi flow ?
Answer:
River Mahanadi flows through Chattisgarh and Odisha.

Question 42.
Name two tributaries of river Mahanadi.
Answer:

• River Brahmani
• River Baitarani

Question 43.
Which is the longest river of South India ?
Answer:
The largest as well as the longest river of South India is the river Godavari.

Question 44.
Where does the river Krishna rise?
Answer:
The river Krishna rises in the hills of Mahabaleswar (1,337 m) in the Western Ghats.

Question 45.
Through which states does the river Krishna flow ?
Answer:
River Krishna flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh before meeting the Bay of Bengal.

Question 46.
Which famous dam is built on river Krishna ?
Answer:
The famous dam built on the river krishna is Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.

Question 47.
Name few tributaries of river Krishna.
Answer:
Some tributaries of river Krishna are river Koyna, Bheema, Tungabhadra, Vedavati, Ghat prabha, Musi, Doodh Ganga etc.

Question 48.
Where does the river Cauvery rise?
Answer:
River Cauvery rises in the Brahmagiri hills (1,341 m) of Coorg district of Karnataka.

Question 49.
Name some tributaries of river Cauvery.
Answer:
Some tributaries of river Cauvery are river Himavati, Bedmati, Amaravati, Lakshmana, Tirtha, Simsa, Bhavani etc.

Question 50.
Name the famous waterfalls on river Cauvery.
Answer:
The famous waterfalls on river Cauvery is the Shivasamudram.

Question 51.
Through which states does the river Cauvery flow ?
Answer:
The river Cauvery flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Question 52.
Name two famous lakes of Jammu-Kashmir.
Answer:
Dal Lake and Wular lake.

Question 53.
Name two famous lakes of Uttarakhand.
Answer:
Nainital and Bheemtal.

Question 54.
Name two artificial lakes of India.
Answer:

• Osman Sagar in Telengana.
• Pushkar lake in Ajmer district of Rajasthan.

Question 55.
Name four famous irrigation canals constructed in Uttar Pradesh.
Answer:

1. Upper Ganga canal
2. Lower Ganga canal
3. Sarda canal
4. Yamuna canal.

Question 56.
Name four irrigation canals in Punjab.
Answer:

1. Upper Bari Doab canal
2. Sirhind canal
3. Bhakra canal
4. Bist Doab canal.

Question 57.
Name two irrigation canals of West Bengal.
Answer:

• Damodar canal
• Mayurakshi canal.

Question 58.
Which is the largest canal of India ?
Answer:
The largest canal of India is the Indira Gandhi canal or the Rajasthan canal.

Question 59.
Which is the longest canal of India ?
Answer:
The longest canal of India is the Sarda canal of Uttar Pradesh.

Question 60.
Name two perennial canals of India.
Answer:

• Sarda canal of Uttar Pradesh
• Yamuna canal of Punjab.

Question 61.
Which state in India possesses the maximum irrigated land?
Answer:
The maximum irrigated land lies in Punjab. Here, about 94 % of agricultural land is under irrigation.

Question 62.
Which state has the lowest irrigated land in India ?
Answer:
The lowest irrigated land lies in Jammu-Kashmir (only about 1.3 % of total agricultural land).

Question 63.
Which is the longest dam in India ?
Answer:
The longest river dam in India is the Hirakud dam constructed on the river Mahanadi in Odisha.

Question 64.
Which is the highest dam in India ?
Answer:
The highest dam in India is the Bhakra dam constructed on the river Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh.

Question 65.
Which is the largest multipurpose project in India ?
Answer:
The largest multipurpose project in India is the Bhakra-Nangal project on the river Sutlej.

Question 66.
Where has the ‘Sardar Sarovar Project’ been constructed ?
Answer:
The Sardar Sarovar Project has been constructed on river Narmada in Gujarat.

Question 67.
Name the dams constructed under the Damodar Valley Project.
Answer:
The Damodar Valley Project had a plan of constructing 8 dams. But due to lack of funds, only 4 dams could be constructed. These are :

• Maithan
• Panchet
• Konar
• Tilaiya

Question 68.
Name the hydel power stations under the DVC.
Answer:

1. Panchet
2. Maithan
3. Tilaiya

Question 69.
Name the thermal power stations under the DVC.
Answer:

1. Bokaro
2. Durgapur
3. Chandrapura
4. Wariya

Question 70.
Which states lead in irrigation by wells and tubewells?
Answer:
The states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan lead in irrigation by wells and tubewells.

Answer in brief : 3 Marks

Question 1.
Describe the course of the river Indus.
Answer:
The river Indus rises in the springs of Sengge khabab at an altitude of 5,180 m, about 100 km north of Manas Sarovar. It enters Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. It flows through Ladakh, Baltistan and Gilgit to finally emerge at of the hills of Atlock. It flows through India for about 709 km, and then enters Pakistan. The main tributaries of Indus in India are – Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej.

Question 2.
What do you mean by an ‘ideal river’ ?
Answer:
A river which has three distinct courses, that is the upper course in the hilly region, the middle course in the plateau or highland region and the lower course in the plain region is called an ideal river. Eg-River Ganga.

Question 3.
Describe the upper course of the river Ganga.
Answer:
The river Ganga rises from the Gomukh cave of the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas. Here it is known as river Bhagirathi. Sweeping westwards for 35 km from Gomukh, the Bhagirathi turns south and flows for another 140 km through the lesser Himalayas. When the Alokananda, originating from the glacial snout of Alakapuri Glacier joins the Bhagirathi at Dev Prayag, it is called the Ganga. From its source at Gomukh till Haridwar, is the upper course of the river Ganga. From Haridwar to the Raj Mahal hills is the middle course, and from the Raj Mahal hills to the Bay of Bengal is the lower course of the river.

Question 4.
Why are the rivers of south India more speedy than the rivers of north India?
Answer:
The rivers of south India, eg-Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Tungabhadra, etc. rise from the hills of the peninsula of India and flow through the plateau region before entering the sea. This plateau is made of igneous rocks, which are very resistant and hard to erode. Also, the rivers flow along the slope of the terraces and hills formed due to lava deposition. There is hardly any presence of plains. Hence, the rivers are very speedy.

Question 5.
Why are the south Indian rivers not perennial like the north Indian rivers?
Answer:
The north Indian rivers rise from the snow-clad mountains of the Himalayas. They get their supply of water from snow-melt as well as heavy orographic rainfall that hit the mountains. Hence, they are perennial. The south Indian rivers rise from the lower hills of the plateau region, which are not snow clad. Hence, they receive water only from rainfall. But rainfall does not occur througout the year. The rivers tend to dry up when there is no supply of rain water. Hence, they are non-perennial.

Question 6.
Why does most of the east flowing rivers form deltas?
Answer:
Most of the east flowing rivers form deltas because :

1. The speed of east flowing rivers is less, hence scope of silt deposition is more.
2. Numerous tributaries of these rivers contribute much silt along with water.
3. The continental shelf on the eastem cost is very gentle, which helps in accumulation of silt.
4. The length of the east flowing rivers is much more. Hence, the amount of eroded material is also quite more and the rate of deposition of these materials is also high.

Question 7.
Write a short note on tubewell irrigation.
Answer:
A tubewell is a deep bore dug into the ground with drilling equipments for drawing out ground water with the help of a pump. Tubewells have proved to be very useful in the alluvial plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. U.P. has the highest number of tubewells. There are about 31,000 tubewells in the country which irrigate about 60 lakh hectares of bud. About 23 % of total irrigated area in India is served by tubewells.

Question 8.
List the advantages and disadvantages of well and tubewell irrigation.
Answer:
Advantages :

• Less costly, hence poor farmers can also afford.
• Water can be drawn out as per requirement.
• Can be constructed very near to the fields.
• The water drawn from underground is rich in minerals, which make it very useful to make the soil fertile.

Disadvantages :

• This kind of irrigation is usually constructed individually, and not in group.
• This can irrigate only a small area.
• Some wells and tubewells may dry up due to use for many years.
• Dependent of level of water in the undergound reservoir.
• Arsenic contamination may result due to overuse of water.

Question 9.
List the advantages of irrigation.
Answer:
The advantages of irrigation are:

• It helps to increase food production.
• It helps to modify the quality of soil.
• It helps to reduce risk of catastrophic damage by droughts.
• It helps to increase national income.
• It increases labour employment and improves the standard of living.
• It provides with the domestic and industrial water supply.
• Sometimes it is used for generation of hydro-electric power.

Question 10.
What are the disadvantages of irrigation?
Answer:
The disadvantages of irrigation are :

• Water logging.
• Rise in salinity or alkalinity of soil.
• Hampers aeration of soil.
• Pollution of underground water.
• Colder and damper climate indirectly caused by irrigation processes cause out break of diseases like malaria.

Question 11.
Discuss the impacts of overusing ground water.
Answer:
The several impacts for overusing ground water are :
(a) Water table may be lowered due to rapid evaporation and drawing out of water.
(b) Wells, ponds etc. may dry up in warm seasons, or due to overdrawing of water.
(c) Too much extraction of ground water creates a partial vacuum which may lead the land surface to collapse.
(d) Too much drawing of water may lead to droughts and soil damage.
(e) Quality of ground water will gradually deteriorate.
(f) Arsenic contamination may result due to drawing of water at very high rates.

Question 12.
What is a watershed ?
Answer:
The highland that separates two adjacent river catchment areas is called a ‘watershed’. They are important because the flow of water in the catchment area, the speed and volume of water, the amount of silt generated, etc. depend on the nature of the watershed.

Question 13.
Why is tubewell irrigation popular in north India ?
Answer:
Tubewell irrigation is popular in north India because :

1. The lndo-Gangetic plain is composed of soft porous sedimentary rocks which can be dug easily.
2. The porous layers of the rocks allow recharge of groudwater easily, hence water is easily available in tubewells dug in this region.
3. The water table in this region is near the surface, thus it can be acquired by minimum digging.
4. Tubewells are less expensive to construct than canals and other means of irrigation.

Question 14.
What are the advantages of rain water harvesting ?
Answer:
The advantages of rain water harvesting are :

1. It provides an independent water supply during regional water restrictions or droughts.
2. It can mitigate flooding of low lands.
3. It helps to sustain groundwater level.
4. It ensures availability of potable water, clean and free from salinity.
5. It helps to re-use runoff water for gardening, livestock, irrigation, domestic use, etc.

Question 15.
Why are rivers Narmada and Tapti west flowing ?
Answer:
The rivers Narmada and Tapti are west flowing because :

1. The slope of the land over which these rivers flow is from east to west.
2. The Western Ghats do not exist in the region where these rivers flow. Hence, they meet the Gulf of Khambat without any hurdles.
3. These rivers flow through rift valleys. Hence, they have made their way through the narrow valleys along the fault lines very easily.

Question 16.
Why don’t the west-flowing rivers form deltas before meeting the sea?
Answer:
The west-flowing rivers of India, i.e. Narmada and Tapti do not form deltas at their mouths because :

1. Length : The rivers flow for a short length and do not have enough water or amount of load. (Narmada – 1312 km, Tapti – 928 km)
2. Tributaries : These rivers have a very few tributaries. Hence, contribution of load is also very less.
3. Type of rock : The rivers flow over hard rocky surface. Hence, amount of eroded material is small.
4. Speed : The rivers flow with great speed, thus removing and discarding all the load far away from the mouths.
5. Continental shelf: The continental shelf in the region where the rivers meet the Gulf of Khambat is quite steep. Thus, accumulation of silt to form deltas is difficult.

Question 17.
Differentiate between Wells and Tubewells.
Answer:

Wells	Tubewells
i. Wells are dug in soft soil and water is pulled out by hand or with the help of animals.	i. Tubewells are constructed by inserting metal or nylon pipes in soft soil and pulling out water by pumps.
ii. Help to pull out water from shallow levels.	ii. Help to pull out water from deep levels.
iii. No requirement of electric or other power resources.	iii. Cannot work without using power from petrol, diesel, electricity etc.
iv. Radius of well is large.	iv. Radius of pipeline is very small.
v. The mouth of the well remains open.	v. The mouth of the pipe remains in the pump.

Question 18.
Mention the states where canal irrigation is predominant.
Answer:
Canal irrigation is predominant in – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat etc.

Question 19.
Differentiate between inundation canals and perennial canals.
Answer:

Inundation canals	Perennial canals
i. In rainy season, the excess water of the rivers is diverted for imigation and other works through canals.	i. Water from perennial rivers is used for irrigation and other purposes throughout the year.
ii. Usually usable in rainy season and remain dry in dry season.	ii. Usually usable in all seasons throughout the year.
iii. Usually seen in flood-prone areas.	iii. Usually seen in areas where perennial rivers flow.
iv. Usually constructed in the delta regions or lower courses of rivers.	iv. Usually constructed in the middle course or the plain lands of a river.
v. Helps in flood control.	v. No remarkable influence in flood control.

Question 20.
What is a Multi-purpose river project? What are its aims?
Answer:
A project on a river that is planned for economic and social development of a place by using the water of the river for multiple purposes, is called a multipurpose project.
Aims – The different aims of a multi-purpose project are – (i) Irrigation, (ii) Production of hydro-electric power, (iii) Flood control, (iv) Navigation and water transport, (v) Supply of drinking water, (vi) Pisciculture, (vii) Building of bridges, (viii) Construction of roadways and railways, (ix) Scope of employment to a huge population, (\mathrm{x) Control of soil erosion, (xi) Development of tourist spots, (xii) Afforestation, (xiii) Development of new settlements.

Answer in details : 5 Marks

Question 1.
Describe the course of river Ganga.
Answer:
Ganga is the main and longest river of India. Its total length is 2,510 km, of which 2,071 km flows through India.

Upper course : The river Ganga rises from the glacial snout Gomukh of the Gangotri glacier. It is then called Bhagirathi. It meets with river Alokananda at the Dev Prayag, after which the river comes to be known as the Ganga. The upper course of Ganga extends from Gomukh to Haridwar for about 320 km. Middle course : It stretches from Haridwar to Dhulian in West Bengal. The left bank tributaries are Ram Ganga, Gomoti, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, etc. The right bank tributaries are – Yamuna and Son. Yamuna is the largest and most important tributary of the Ganga.

Lower course : The lower course extends from Dhulian in Murshidabad (WB) to the Bay of Bengal. The river divides into two branches near Giriya district of Mushidabad as Bhagirathi and Padma. The Padma enters Bangladesh and meets the Bay of Bengal from there. The Bhagirathi flows southwards through West Bengal as Hooghly river. The main left bank tributaries are – Jalangi, Ichhamati, Churni, etc. The right bank tributaries are – Brahmani, Dwarka, Ajay, Mayurakshi, Damodar, Rupnarayan, Kangsabati, etc. The Bhagirathi Hooghly, along with the Padma, form the world’s largest delta before meeting the Bay of Bengal.

Question 2.
Describe the course of river Brahmaputra.
Answer:
The Brahmaputra river is 2700 km long, of which 885 km flows through India. It rises from the Chemayundung glacier, south west of Manas Sarovar. It flows eastward through Tibet where it is known as Tsang-Po. After taking a sharp bend towards the south, it enters India through a deep gorge in the east of Namcha Barwa in Arunachal Pradesh as Dihang. The river Dihang meets with rivers Dibang and Lohit and then flow as a single river called Brahmaputra. It flows through Assam from the east near Sadiya to the west upto Dhubri and then takes a sharp turn towards the south and enters Bangladesh as river Yamuna. The important right bank tributaries are-Subansiri, Barali, Manas, Teesta, etc. The left bank tributaries are – Buri, Dihing, South Dhansiri, etc.

Question 3.
Discuss the importances of lakes, canals and reservoirs in human life.
Answer:
The importances of lakes, canals and reservoirs in human life are –
i. Irrigation : Lake water can be used for irrigation and make cultivation possible in adjacent areas.

ii. Flood control : Lakes and reservoirs help to hold the excess runoff from rain water and help to control floods.
iii. Fishing : The water bodies help in cultivation of fish and ensure supply of protein based food to the locality as well as outside.
iv. Transport : Large lakes may act as a mode of transport by boats and steamers.
v. Tourism : Beautiful scenery and pleasant weather near lakes and resevoirs attract many tourists, thus gain econonic importance as tourist spots.

Question 4.
What is the impact of overuse of ground water?
Answer:
The biggest reservoir of fresh water on earth is ‘ground water’ which holds more than 20 times of total surface water (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.). Ground water is pumped out to meet agricultural, industrial and domestic depends. But overuse of ground water may cause several problems –

1. Lowering of water table.
2. Drying up of wells, ponds, etc.
3. Subsidence and collapse of land surface.
4. Drought and damaged soil.
5. Deterioration of water quality.

In India, over 16 % of ground water resources are over exploited, mainly in north western, western and peninsular regions. If this trend continues, 60 % of India’s acquifers will be in critical condiions in coming 20 years.

Question 5.
Write a short note on the Damoder Valley Project.
Answer:
The Damodar Valley Project is the first Multi-purpose project in independent India. It was started in 1948. It was based on the Tennessee Valley Project of USA. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has been developed on river Damodar in Jharkhand and West Bengal. It consists of a series of dam on this river and its tributaries. The river Damodar rising in the chotanagpur plateau region, fluctuates in water level too much. In the rainy season it causes dreadful floods destroying life and property. Hence, it is known as the ‘Sorrow of Jharkhand (Bihar)’.

The DVC has constructed multi-purpose dams at Tilaiya (on river Barakar), Konar (on river Konar), Maithon (on river Barakar) and Panchet (on river Damodar). Hydel power stations have been constructed at Maithan, Tilaiya and Panchet. The 672 m long and 11.58 m deep barrage on the river Damodar at Durgapur, 226 km long irrigation canals help to irrigate about 5 lakh hectares of land. The thermal power stations at Bokaro, Chandrapura, and Durgapur produce about 1,081 MW of electricity. The DVC has now handed over its overall control to the Govt. of West Bengal.

Question 6.
What is Watershed management?
Answer:
Watershed management refers to the scientific use and utilisation of water recources to stop soil erosion, increase soil fertility, control floods, prevent siltation of river beds and maintain proper land use patterns. The various methods that are used in watershed management are –
i. Slope management : The higher slopes of the river basin that are prone to land slides and soil erosion can be taken care of by planting trees, grasslands, stopping jhum cultivation. Guard walls can be built in some cases to protect the land.
ii. Flood control : Floods can be controlled by dredging of rivers, ponds, lakes etc and increasing their water holding capacities.
iii. Gully erosion : Gully erosion and sheet erosion can be controlled by planting trees across the flow of runoff and building small dams at places.
iv. Contour farmıng : Contour farming, terrace farming etc. can help to stop soil erosion and increase water seepage to increase the ground water level.
v. Multi-purpose projects : Multi-purpose projects can be planned for purposes like irrigation, hydel power, fish culture, flood control, water transport, control of soil erosion, tourism, etc.

Question 7.
Discuss about rain water harvesting in Tamil Nadu.
Answer:
Rain water harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rain water for reuse, rather than allowing it to run off. Its uses include water for gardening, livestock, irrigation, domestic use, etc. It can also be used as drinking water.

Tamil Nadu : Tamil Nadu receives rainfall twice a year. Hence, it is the best region for rain water harvesting. In order to augment ground water resourses, it has been made mandatory in Tamil Nadu to provide rain water harvesting structures in all buildings. The arrangement is such deviced that after the first rain washes away the dirt and dust of the roofs, water can be collected and stored. Different type of devices are used for different types of roofs. Presently, 40 % of rain water is being stored underground. In Chennai alone, a 150 \mathrm{sq . \mathrm{km underground water reservoir meets the scarcity of water.

Question 8.
Describe canal irrigation system in India.
Answer:
The method of irrigation by digging canals from rivers towards agricultural fields through the soft silty soil is known as canal irrigation. Canal irrigation is popular in plains where the slope of land is moderate.
Areas – The areas under canal irrigation in India are Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delta regions of rivers, etc.
Types – Canals are usually of two types –
(i) Perennial canals – Which have water throughout the year as they are dug from perennial rivers.
(ii) Inundation canals – Which receive water when the rivers are in flood in rainy season.
Amount of canal irrigation – About 50 % of canals are spread over Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. About 38 % of agricultural land is irrigated by canals.

Question 9.
What is rain water harvesting ? What are the different methods of rain water harvesting ?
Answer:
The process of collecting rain water from roof tops and other open places for reuse for different purposes is called rain water harvesting.
The different methods of rain water harvesting are –
i. Construction of tanks – Rain water can be collected in natural or artificial tanks, ponds, lakes, etc. in the rainy season and can be used later in the dry season.

ii. Construction of Small dams – Higher dams disrupt the natural flow of water in the rivers to a great extent. This may cause many adverse effects. But construction of small and low dams to stop the flowing water only by portions may come out to be a very useful method of rain water harvest.

iii. Collection of rain water – Rain water can be collected from roof tops and other open surfaces or areas which receive heavy rainfall from the monsoons.

iv. Proper use of ground water – The ground water utilisation may be improved from 35-40 % to 60 % by implementing proper methods of acquiring the ground water. Unplanned water acquiring processes must be prevented with the help of rules and regulations.

v. Ground water recharge – Scope must be given for percolation of rain water into the soil for recharge of underground water. In some cases, there may be the need for recharging ground water artificially.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) : 1 Mark

Question 1.
Which of the following is a Trans-Himalayan river?
(A) Ganga
(B) Yamuna
(C) Sutlej
(D) Ravi
Answer:
(C) Sutlej

Question 2.
Which of the following rivers is not a tributary of Ganga ?
(A) Gomati
(B) Gandak
(C) Kosi
(D) Ghagra
Answer:
(D) Ghagra

Question 3.
Which of the following rivers lies in a rift valley ?
(A) Luni
(B) Chambal
(C) Sone
(D) Tapti
Answer:
(D) Tapti

Question 4.
Narmada originates from its source situated in the state of :
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Madhya Pradesh
(D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer:
(C) Madhya Pradesh

Question 5.
The Jog falls are situated on the :
(A) Tapti river
(B) Sharavati river
(C) Cauvery river
(D) Bhima river
Answer:
(B) Sharavati river

Question 6.
Why is the Delta of the Indus small compared to the Delta of the Ganga?
(A) The Indus traverses a shorter distance than the Ganga
(B) The Indus is not as broad as the Ganga
(C) The path of the Indus is through arid area while the Ganga collects more water along its path to the sea
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(C) The path of the Indus is through arid area while the Ganga collects more water along its path to the sea

Question 7.
The Indian rivers of the Indus Basin are :
(A) Sutlej, Beas and Ravi
(B) Ganga, Beas and Sutlej
(C) Betwa, Sone and Kosi
(D) Gomati, Kosi, Gandak
Answer:
(A) Sutlej, Beas and Ravi

Question 8.
Beas flows through the State of –
(A) Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
(B) Punjab, Haryana and Jammu
(C) Punjab and Himachal Pradesh
(D) Punjab and Haryana
Answer:
(D) Punjab and Haryana

Question 9.
River Cauveri flows through the States of-
(A) Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu
(B) Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
(C) Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu
(D) Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Answer:
(B) Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Question 10.
Ganga beyond Farakka, when it enters Bangladesh, is known as :
(A) Padma
(B) Meghna
(C) Hooghly
(D) Swaran Ganga
Answer:
(A) Padma

Question 11.
Which of the following has almost the same point of beginning ?
(A) Ganga and Indus
(B) Ganga and Brahmaputra
(C) Beas and Tapti
(D) Indus and Brahmaputra
Answer:
(D) Indus and Brahmaputra

Question 12.
The river that flows between the Vindya and the Satpura Mountain is :
(A) Maki
(B) Narmada
(C) Tapti
(D) Sharavati
Answer:
(B) Narmada

Question 13.
The Alakananda and the Bhagirathi meet at :
(A) Prayag
(B) Devaprayag
(C) Haridwar
(D) Rishikesh
Answer:
(B) Devaprayag

Question 14.
The left bank tributary of the Ganga is the :
(A) Sone
(B) Gomati
(C) Yamuna
(D) Damodar
Answer:
(B) Gomati

Question 15.
The river Chambal flows into the :
(A) Tapi
(B) Ganga
(C) Yamuna
(D) Narmada
Answer:
(C) Yamuna

Question 16.
The name “The Gift of the Indus” is given to :
(A) U.P
(B) Gujarat
(C) Sindh
(D) Rajasthan
Answer:
(C) Sindh

Question 17.
Tapti flows into the :
(A) Arabian sea
(B) Cambay Gulf
(C) Gulf of Kutch
(D) All of these
Answer:
(B) Cambay Gulf

Question 18.
The town situated at the mouth of the river Tapti is :
(A) Surat
(B) Broach
(C) Honnavar
(D) Joypur
Answer:
(A) Surat

Question 19.
Jog Falls is across the river:
(A) Sharavati
(B) Cauvery
(C) Krishna
(D) Godavari
Answer:
(A) Sharavati

Question 20.
The source of Godavari is :
(A) Amarkantak
(B) Triambak
(C) Mahabaleswar
(D) Nasik
Answer:
(B) Triambak

Question 21.
Machalipatnam is located at the mouth of :
(A) Tapi
(B) Cauvery
(C) Krishna
(D) Godavari
Answer:
(C) Krishna

Question 22.
The main tributary of the Cauvery is the :
(A) Parna
(B) Vennan
(C) Vettar
(D) Coleroom
Answer:
(D) Coleroom

Question 23.
Porunai is another name of the :
(A) Ganga
(B) Cauvery
(C) Vaighi
(D) Tamiraparani
Answer:
(D) Tamiraparani

Question 24.
The Vaigai river rises in the :
(A) Coorg
(B) Agastiya Hills
(C) Cardamom Hills
(D) Anaimudi
Answer:
(C) Cardamom Hills

Question 25.
The dam across Periyar is at :
(A) Amaravati
(B) Thekkady
(C) Palani
(D) Krishna
Answer:
(B) Thekkady

Question 26.
Tungabhadra flows into the river:
(A) Godavari
(B) Cauvery
(C) Palani
(D) Krishna
Answer:
(D) Krishna

Question 27.
Important west flowing river is :
(A) Mahanadi
(B) Cauvery
(C) Krishna
(D) Narmada
Answer:
(D) Narmada

Question 28.
Bhakra-Nangal is a …… project.
(A) multipurpose
(B) power
(C) irrigation
(D) none
Answer:
(A) multipurpose

Question 29.
Mettur is the most important multipurpose project for the state of :
(A) Kerala
(B) Karnataka
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Tamil Nadu
Answer:
(D) Tamil Nadu

Question 30.
Kosi Project is a joint venture of :
(A) India and Bangladesh
(B) India and Nepal
(C) India and Bhutan
(D) Bhutan and Nepal
Answer:
(B) India and Nepal

Question 31.
Sivasamudram fall is across river :
(A) Godavari
(B) Krishna
(C) Sharavati
(D) Cauvery
Answer:
(D) Cauvery

Question 32.
The Ganga enters the great plains at :
(A) Agra
(B) Allahabad
(C) Patna
(D) Haridwar
Answer:
(D) Haridwar

Question 33.
The peninsular rivers have their source in the :
(A) Satpura
(B) Western Ghats
(C) Himalayas
(D) Bay of Bengal
Answer:
(B) Western Ghats

Question 34.
The most important tributary of the Ganga is :
(A) Tapti
(B) Yamuna
(C) Periyar
(D) None of these
Answer:
(B) Yamuna

Question 35.
The rivers Narmada and Tapti flow into the Gulf of :
(A) Bay of Bengal
(B) Kutch
(C) Mannar
(D) Khambhat
Answer:
(D) Khambhat

Question 36.
The Yamuna joins the Ganga at :
(A) Delhi
(B) Haridwar
(C) Allahabad
(D) Calcutta
Answer:
(C) Allahabad

Question 37.
The northern channel of Cauvery is called :
(A) Hemavathi
(B) Coleroom
(C) Bhavani
(D) Son
Answer:
(B) Coleroom

Question 38.
The river Krishna enters the Bay of Bengal near :
(A) Hyderabad
(B) Vijayawada
(C) Masulipatnam
(D) Nellore
Answer:
(B) Vijayawada

Question 39.
The biggest artificial reservoir is :
(A) Nijam Sagar
(B) Govind Vallab Pant Sagar
(C) Stanley Reservoir
(D) Govind Sagar Lake
Answer:
(B) Govind Vallab Pant Sagar

Question 40.
Rihand Project is mainly a ….. project :
(A) Drinking
(B) Irrigation
(C) Power
(D) Multipurpose
Answer:
(D) Multipurpose

Question 41.
This flows through a rift valley :
(A) Ganga
(B) Mahanadi
(C) Tapti
(D) Luni
Answer:
(C) Tapti

Question 42.
A dam is located at Sambalpur on the Mahanadi river :
(A) Damodar
(B) Bhakra
(C) Hirakud
(D) Nagarjuna Sagar
Answer:
(C) Hirakud

Question 43.
River Damodar is a tributary of :
(A) Yamuna
(B) Sabarmati
(C) Ganga
(D) Ajoy
Answer:
(C) Ganga

Fill in the blanks : 1 Mark

1. The Ganga river comes from the Gangotri glacier which is located at a height of ________ m. in the north of the Kedarnath peak.
2. The river Ganga carries about ________ of the water of the total drainage of India.
3. The river ganga meets river ________ near Gaalundo.
4. Most of the drainage of Himalayas is ________ .
5. The river Gomti meets the river Ganga near ________ .
6. The river ________ flows in India, Bangladesh and Tibet.
7. The ________ waterfalls lie in the upper course of the river Narmada.
8. The ________ lake in India has the highest salinity.
9. The river Brahmaputra is known as ________ in Tibet.
10. The river ________ changes its course frequently
Answer:
1. 6600
2. 25 %
3. Brahmaputra
4. Antecedent
5. Gazipur
6. Brahmaputra
7. Kapil dhara
8. Sambhar
9. Tsang po
10. Kosi

State True or False : 1 Mark

1. About 15 % of the agricultural fields in India are irrigated with the help of wells. [ ]
2. Rajasthan ranks first in India in well and tube well irrigation. [ ]
3. The Bhakra-Nangal multipurpose project has been constructed on the river Krishna. [ ]
4. The Hirakud dam has been constructed on the river Mahanadi. [ ]
5. The Bhakra-Nangal project is the longest multipurpose project of India [ ]
6. The Koleru lake is the largest sweet water lake in India. [ ]
7. The Pangong lake is the highest lake of the world. [ ]
8. The largest lake of western India is the Loktak lake. [ ]
9. Pulicat lake is the largest lake of Kerala. [ ]
10. The Wular lake is a salt water lake. [ ]
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. False
9. False
10. False

Match the following : 1 Mark

List I (Rivers)	List II (Tributaries)
A. Indus	1. Mahananda
B. Ganga	2. Bhima
C. Krishna	3. Wainganga
D. Godavari	4. Nubra

Answer:

List I (Rivers)	List II (Tributaries)
A. Indus	4. Nubra
B. Ganga	1. Mahananda
C. Krishna	2. Bhima
D. Godavari	3. Wainganga

Answer in few words : 1 Mark

Question 1.
Where does the river Indus rise?
Answer:
From the springs of Sengge Khabab, 5,180m high, 100 km north of Manas Sarovar.

Question 2.
Name some Himalayan tributaries of Indus.
Answer:
Gantang, Zaskar, Dras, Shyok, Shigar, etc.

Question 3.
Where does the river Sutlej rise?
Answer:
In lake Rakas in Tibet, 4,555 m high.

Question 4.
Where does the river Beas rise?
Ins.
Beas kend near Rohtang Pass at an elevation of 4,361 m.

Question 5.
Where does the river Ravi rise?
Answer:
From the Kulu hills near Rohtang pass.

Question 6.
How does the river Chenab rise?
Answer:
Formed by union of two streams, the Chandra and the Bhaga.

Question 7.
Where does the river Jhelum rise?
Answer:
From a spring at Verinag in the south-eastern part of the vale of Srinagar.

Question 8.
How muh area does the Ganga basin cover of the total land surface of India?
Answer:
25 %

Question 9.
Where does the river Ganga rise ?
Answer:
Gomukh cave of Gangotri glacier.

Question 10.
What is the source of river Alakananda?
Answer:
Alakapuri Glacier.

Question 11.
Which two rivers meet at Devaprayag ?
Answer:
Alakanada and Bhagirathi, forming river Ganga.

Question 12.
Which two rivers meet at the Rudraprayag ?
Answer:
Alakananda and Mandakini.

Question 13.
How far does the upper course of Ganga extend?
Answer:
Gangotri glacier to Haridwar.

Question 14.
How far does the middle course of Ganga extend?
Answer:
Haridwar to Raj Mahal hills.

Question 15.
How far does the lower course of Ganga extend?
Answer:
Raj Mahal hills to the Bay of Bengal.

Question 16.
Name an ideal river of India.
Answer:
River Ganga.

Question 17.
Name the largest tributary of river Ganga.
Answer:
River Yamuna.

Question 18.
Where does river Yamuna rise ?
Answer:
Yamunotri glacier.

Question 19.
Where does river Yamuna meet river Ganga ?
Answer:
At Sangam in Allahabad.

Question 20.
Name some tributaries of Yamuna on the right bank.
Answer:
Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken.

Question 21.
Where does river Kosi rise?
Answer:
From the Tibet plateau.

Question 22.
Which river is called the Sorrow of Bihar?
Answer:
River Kosi.

Question 23.
Where is the source of river Brahmaputra ?
Answer:
Chemayundung glacier south-west of Manas Sarovar.

Question 24.
What is river Brahmaputra known as in Tibet ?
Answer:
River Tsangpo.

Question 25.
Which two rivers meet to form river Brahmaputra.
Answer:
Rivers Dihang and Dibang.

Question 26.
Name an inland river of India.
Answer:
River Luni of Rajasthan.

Question 27.
Name the west flowing rivers of peninsular India.
Answer:
Rivers Narmada and Tapti.

Question 28.
Where does river Narmada rise from ?
Answer:
Amarkantak Peak of the Mahakal Range.

Question 29.
Where does river Tapti rise from?
Answer:
Mahadeo hills.

Question 30.
Where does the river Tapti drain its water finally?
Answer:
Gulf of Khambat.

Question 31.
Where is the source of river Mahanadi ?
Answer:
Near Amarkantak Peak of the Mahakal range.

Question 32.
Name the main tributaries of river Mahanadi.
Answer:
Rivers Brahmani and Baitarani.

Question 33.
Name the longest river of peninsular India.
Answer:
River Godavari.

Question 34.
What is river Godavari also known as ?
Answer:
The Ganga of the south.

Question 35.
Where is the source of river Krishna?
Answer:
Mahabaleshwar hills.

Question 36.
Name the major tributaries of river Krishna.
Answer:
Rivers Bhima and Tungabhadra.

Question 37.
Where is the source of river Cauvery ?
Answer:
Brahmagiri hills of Westem Ghats.

Question 38.
Name the main tributaries of river Cauvery.
Answer:
Rivers Himavati, Bhavani, Bedavati, Shimsa.

Question 39.
Name the famous waterfalls on river Cauvery.
Answer:
Shivasamudram.

Question 40.
Name 2 kayals or lakes of Kerala.
Answer:
Vembanad (largest) and Ashtamudi.

Question 41.
Name 2 lakes of Jammu and Kashmir.
Answer:
Dal lake, Wular lake.

Question 42.
Name 2 lakes of Uttarakhand.
Answer:
Bheemtal and Nainital.

Question 43.
Name 2 artificial lakes of India.
Answer:
Osman Sagar of Telengana, Puskar lakes of Rajasthan.

Question 44.
Name two irrigation canals of West Bengal.
Answer:
Damodar canal, Mayurakshee canal.

Question 45.
Name the largest irrigation canal of India.
Answer:
The Indira Gandhi canal or the Rajasthan canal.

Question 46.
Which is the longest canal of India ?
Answer:
Sharada canal of Uttar Pradesh.

Question 47.
Name an inundation canal of India.
Answer:
Hijli canal of West Bengal.

Question 48.
Name two perennial canals of India.
Answer:
Sharada canal of UP, Damodor canal of West Bengal.

Question 49.
Which state of India is maximum irrigated ?
Answer:
Punjab (about 94 % of cultivated land).

Question 50.
Which is the longest river dam of India ?
Answer:
Hirakud dam on river Mahandi in Odisha.

Question 51.
Name the highest dam of India.
Answer:
Bhakra Nangal dam on river Sutlej in Punjab.

Question 52.
Name the largest multipurpose project of India.
Answer:
Bhakra-Nangal Project.

Question 53.
Where is the ‘Sardar Sarovar Project’ located ?
Answer:
On river Narmada in Gujarat.

Question 54.
Name the dams under Damodar Valley Corporation.
Answer:

1. Mythan
2. Panchet
3. Konar
4. Tilaiya.

Question 55.
Which state ranks first in use of wells and tubewells for irrigation?
Answer:
Uttar Pradesh.

Question 56.
Which state ranks first in rain water harvesting ?
Answer:
Tamil Nadu.

Question 57.
Which region is apt for digging wells for irrigation?
Answer:
Regions with soft soil and ample of ground water.

Question 58.
How much area is under canal irrigation in India ?
Answer:
45 % of total irrigated area.

Question 59.
On which river is the Mythan dam constructed?
Answer:
River Barakar.

Question 60.
On which river is the Panchet dam constructed?
Answer:
River Damodar.