Other Water Resources

 Lakes

• Most lakes are permanent; some contain water only during the rainy season, like the lakes in the basins of inland drainage of semi-arid regions.
• Some form by action of glaciers and ice sheets.
• Others have been formed by wind, river action and human activities.
• Meandering across flood plain form cut-offs later ox-bow lake.
• In Coastal areas - Spits and bars form lagoons.
• Sambhar lake in Rajasthan - salt water lake. Its water is used for producing salt.
• Wular lake (largest fresh water lake) in Jammu and Kashmir, is the result of tectonic activity.
• Important freshwater lakes - The Dal lake, Bhimtal, Nainital, Loktak and Barapani.
• Lake formation for hydel power - Guru Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Nangal Project).
• River help for - regulate the flow of a river, during heavy rain prevents flooding, developing hydel power. Also maintain the aquatic ecosystem, enhance natural beauty, help develop tourism and provide recreation.

River Regimes

• Pattern of flow of water in a river channel over a year is known as its regime.
• Flow measured either in cusecs (cubic feet per second) or cumecs (cubic metres per second).
• Ganga has its minimum flow during the January-June period, maximum flow is attained either in August or in September, After September, there is a steady fall in the flow.
• Narmada has a very low volume of discharge from January to July but it suddenly rises in August when the maximum flow is attained. Fall in October & Rise in August.
• Godavari has the minimum discharge in May, and the maximum in July-August. After August, there is a sharp fall.

Role of River in the Economy

• Riverbanks have attracted settlers. Rivers for irrigation, navigation, hydro-power generation is of special significance.
• Load of untreated sewage and industrial effluents affects not only the quality of water but also the self-cleansing capacity of the river.
• Problem in River water
• No availability in sufficient quantity
• River water pollution
• Load of silt in the river water
• Uneven seasonal flow of water
• River water disputes between states
• Shrinking of channels due to the extension of settlements towards the thalweg

River Pollution

• National River Conservation Plan is to improve water quality of river.

Water Resource in India

• 2.45 per cent of the world’s surface area. 4 per cent of the world’s water resources.
• 16 per cent of the world’s population.
• Precipitation 4,000 cubic km.
• Surface water and replenishable groundwater – 1,869 cubic km.
• utilisable water resource in the country is only 1,122 cubic km.

Surface Water Resources

• Rivers, lakes, ponds and tanks (10,360 rivers).
• Annual flow - 1,869 cubic km.
• Ganga, the Brahmaputra and the Barak rivers - one-third of the total area & 60 per cent of the total surface water resources.

Groundwater Resources

• Replenishable groundwater resources in the country are about 432 cubic km.
• Groundwater utilisation
• Very high - states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
• Moderate rate - Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura and Maharashtra.
• Small Portion - Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Kerala, etc.,

Lagoons and Backwaters

• Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal have vast surface water resources in these lagoons and lakes.
• Water is generally brackish used for fishing and irrigating.

Demand of Water for Irrigation

• Irrigation makes multiple cropping possible. Green revolution strategy of agriculture development in the country has largely been successful in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, more than 85 per cent of their net sown area is under irrigation.
• 76.1% in Punjab and 51.3% in Haryana are irrigated through wells and tubewells.
• Over-use of groundwater let Rajasthan and Maharashtra, has increased fluoride concentration in groundwater. Increase in concentration of arsenic in parts of West Bengal and Bihar.

Water Scarcity

• Caused by over-exploitation.
• Excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.
• Water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season agriculture. Need Revolutionise to developing drought resistant crops and dry farming techniques.
• Agriculture accounts - 89 per cent of the surface water and 92 per cent of the groundwater utilization. Industrial sector - to 2 per cent of the surface water utilization and 5 per cent of the ground-water. Domestic sector is higher (9 per cent) in surface water utilisation as compared to groundwater
• Scarcity may be due to bad quality of water. Polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture, thus, making it hazardous for human use.
• Ganga and the Yamuna are the two highly polluted rivers in the country.

Multi-Purpose River Project and Integrated Water Resources Management

• Constructing sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams built of stone rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments and canals for irrigation.

Hydraulic Structures in Ancient India 1st Century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad had sophisticated water harvesting system channelling the flood water of the river Ganga. Chandragupta Maurya - Dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built. sophisticated irrigation works have also been found in Kalinga, (Odisha), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), Bennur (Karnataka), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), etc... 11th Century, Bhopal Lake – Largest Artificial Lake. Tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi constructed by Iltutmish for supplying water to Siri Fort area

• India hydroelectric power contributes approximately 22% of the total electricity produced.
• Dams are built not just for irrigation but for electricity generation, water supply for domestic and industrial uses, flood control, recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.
• Ex: Indira Gandhi Canal Project, Hirakud, Damodar Valley, Nagarjuna Sagar, Sutluj-Beas river basin, Bhakra – Nangal project – Hydel power & Irrigation. Hirakud project - Mahanadi basin integrates conservation of water with flood control.
• Jawaharlal Nehru proudly proclaimed - dams as the “temples of modern India”.
• Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
• New environmental movements - ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ & ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’ – due to large-scale displacement of local communities.
• Important Dam
• Sardar Sarovar Dam - Narmada River in Gujarat. Covering Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. (areas of Gujarat (9,490 villages and 173 towns) and Rajasthan (124 villages).
• Dams did create conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water resources. In Gujarat, the Sabarmati-basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
• Krishna-Godavari dispute, diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra government for a multipurpose project.

Prevention of Water Pollution

• Legislative Provisions: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, Environment Protection Act 1986 & Water Cess Act, 1977.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards has been monitoring water quality of national aquatic resources at 507 stations.
• Yamuna river is the most polluted river in the country between Delhi and Etawah.
• Other Polluted River: The Sabarmati at Ahmedabad, the Gomti at Lucknow, the Kali, the Adyar, the Cooum (entire stretches), the Vaigai at Madurai and the Musi of Hyderabad and the Ganga at Kanpur and Varanasi.

Recycle and Reuse of Water

• Industries for cooling and firefighting to reduce their water cost.
• Urban areas water after bathing and washing utensils can be used for gardening.

Watershed Management

• Prevention of runoff and storage and recharge of groundwater.
• conservation, regeneration and judicious use of all resources.
• Success of watershed development largely depends upon community participation.
• Haryali - watershed development project sponsored by the Central Government. Project is being executed by Gram Panchayats with people’s participation.
• Neeru-Meeru (Water and You) programme (in Andhra Pradesh), Arvary Pani Sansad (in Alwar, Rajasthan) - Construct percolation tanks, dug out ponds (Johad), check dams.
• Tamil Nadu has made water harvesting structures in the houses compulsory.
• Rejuvenating environment and economy.
• Ex: Ralegan Siddhi small village in the district of Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra. youth group called Tarun Mandal, percolation tank constructed, People voluntarily repaired the embankment. ban the dowry system, caste discrimination and untouchability. At present water is adequate, became different model to the country.

Rainwater Harvesting

• Capture and store rainwater for various uses, also recharge groundwater aquifers.
• increases water availability, checks the declining groundwater table, improves the quality of groundwater through dilution of contaminants, like fluoride and nitrates, prevents soil erosion, and flooding and arrests salt water intrusion in coastal areas if used to recharge aquifers.
• Rajasthan, rainwater harvesting structures locally known as Kund or Tanka (a covered underground tank).
• Harvesting rainwater on rooftops and open spaces.

Water Conservation and Management

• High cost of desalinization.
• Encourage watershed development, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reuse, and conjunctive use of water for sustaining water supply in long run.

Highlights of India’s National Water Policy, 2002

Drinking water; irrigation, hydro-power, navigation, industrial and other uses

• Irrigation and multi-purpose projects should invariably include drinking water component, wherever there is no alternative source of drinking water.
• Providing drinking water to all human beings and animals should be the first priority.
• Measures should be taken to limit and regulate the exploitation of groundwater.
• Both surface and groundwater should be regularly monitored for quality. A phased programme should be undertaken for improving water quality.
• The efficiency of utilisation in all the diverse uses of water should be improved.
• Awareness of water as a scarce resource should be fostered.
• Conservation consciousness should be promoted through education, regulation, incentives and disincentives.