social science 9th & 10th: July 2021

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

MCQ-L-1-C- Power sharing

Chapter 1 - Power Sharing. At the end of Multiple Choice Questions, the answer key has also been provided for your reference

Q1. Belgium Shares borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and ……?

Q2. In the capital city Brussels, 80 percent people speak………?

Q3. 20 % of the people of Brussels Speak………?

Q4. Brussels presented a special problem:What was it?

Q5. What percentage of Srilankan Population is Tamil Speaking?

Q6. The people whose forefathers came from India to Srilanka as plantation workers during the colonial period are called…….

Q7. Most of the Sinhalese Speaking people in Srilanka are…………?

Q8. When did Sri Lanka emerge as an independent country?

Q9. In ……….an Act was passed to recognise Sinhalese as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhalese applicants for university positions and government jobs?

Q10. All these government measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the ………...among the Sri Lankan Tamils?

Q11. By the 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding ……..?

Q12. When did the Civil War of Sri Lanka end?

Q13. How many times was the constitution of Belgium amended between 1970 and 1993?

Q14. The Constitution of Belgium prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers ……….. in the central government?

Q15. The ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking. What powers does it hold?

Q16. Give reason as to why power sharing can be good for a country?

Q17. Give one moral reason as why power sharing is good?

Q18. The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to …….?

Q19. Give an example of horizontal distribution of power?

Q20. Which is a federal division of power?

Q21. Where power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary, what is the functioning of this system called?

Q22. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
1. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
2. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
3. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
4. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines
Which of the statements is correct?

Q23. In Sri lanka, there are about….. percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala?

Q24. In Srilanka the democratically elected government adopted a series of ……….. measures to establish Sinhala supremacy?

Q25. In Srilanka, a new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster ………...Tamil Indians

Q26. In Belgium……

Q27. When many countries of Europe came together to form the European Union, ………. was chosen as the headquarter?

Q28. Name one prudential reason for power sharing?

Q29. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
1. reduces conflict among different communities
2. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
3. delays decision making process
4. accommodates diversities
5. increases instability and divisiveness
6. promotes people’s participation in government
7. undermines the unity of a country

Q30. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
1. Power sharing is good for democracy.
2. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?

Answer key-“Power Sharing” MCQs

Q. No.	Ans.	Q. No.	Ans.	Q. No.	Ans.
1	C	11	B	21	B
2	A	12	B	22	B
3	A	13	C	23	C
4	B	14	A	24	D
5	C	15	A	25	C
6	B	16	D	26	A
7	D	17	C	27	B
8	C	18	D	28	D
9	B	19	B	29	C
10	C	20	A	30	B

X-L-1c-POWER SHARING

Chapter 1 Power Sharing

Very Shor Answer Questions (VSA) 1 Mark

Question 1.

Which language was recognized as the only official language of Sri Lanka in 1956? (2012)

Answer:

Sinhala

Question 2.

Apart from the Central and the State governments, which is the third type of government practised in Belgium? (2012)

Answer:

Community government

Question 3.

Define majoritarianism. (2013)

Answer:

Majoritarianism is rule by majority community by disregarding the needs and wishes of the minority community.

Question 4.

What measure was adopted by the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala Supremacy? (2014)

Answer:

In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University positions and government jobs.

Question 5.

What is the language spoken by the people residing in the Wallonia region of Belgium? (2014)

Answer:

People residing in Wallonia region of Belgium speak French.

Question 6.

What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’? (2015)

Answer:

The horizontal distribution of power ensures that power is shared among different organs of government—the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. The horizontal distribution of power is also called a system of checks and balances. This system ensures that none of these organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the other.

Question 7.

After independence, Sri Lanka witnessed the supremacy of which community? (2015)

Answer:

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948 and the democratically elected government adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.

Question 8.

Define the term ‘Ethnic’.

Answer:

Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent. People belonging to an ethnic group need not have the same religion or nationality.

Question 9.

What is vertical division of power?

Answer:

When power is shared among governments at different levels, i.e., the Union or the Central Government, the State Government and the Municipality and Panchayat at the lower level. This division of power involving higher and lower levels of government is called the vertical division of power.

Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks

Question 10.

Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity. (2012)

Answer:

Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity very differently.

Belgium:

Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to respect the feelings and interests of different communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking people shall be equal in the Central Government.

Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal basis at the Centre. Along with the State Government, both communities have a third kind of Government called ‘Community Government’ which decides on cultural, education and language related issues.

Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to enable all linguistic groups to live together within the same country.

Sri Lanka:

In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese speaking (74%) and Tamil speaking (18%). The majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their domination over Tamils, refusing to share power.

Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have denied political, educational, religious, employment and economic rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.

In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.

Question 11.

How far do you agree with the statement that power sharing is keeping with the spirit of democracy? (2012)

Answer:

Power sharing is desirable in democracy because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Conflict between social groups leads to violence and political instability. Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Imposing the will of majority community over others, in the long run may undermine the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority, it often brings ruin to the majority as well.

A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Prudential reasons stress that power sharing brings out better outcomes whereas moral reasons emphasize the act of power sharing as valuable.

Question 12.

Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government. (2013)

Answer:

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy. Consequences of these majoritarian policies:

The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them equal political rights which led to increased feeling of alienation among them.

The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal rights in politics, in getting jobs and ignored their interests. The relation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities became extremely strained as a result.

The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.

Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War. As a result, thousands of people of both communities were killed and many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and lost their livelihoods.

Question 13.

Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex?

Answer:

Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one crore.

59 per cent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language.

Another 40 per cent people live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German.

Whereas in the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 per cent of the population is French-speaking and 20 per cent is Dutch-speaking.

Question 14.

How is Belgium’s power-sharing path different from any other country?

Or, Explain the four elements in the Belgian power-sharing model.

Or, Why do we find the Belgian model very complicated? How has it helped to prevent conflict and division of the country on linguistic lines?

Answer:

The power-sharing arrangements made by the Belgian leaders were different and more innovative than any other country. To recognise the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities, they amended their Constitution four times between 1970 and 1993.

The major elements of the Belgian Model are:

Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. No single community can take decisions unilaterally.

The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.

Brussels, the capital, has a separate government where both the communities have equal representation.

A third kind of government, ‘Community Government’, is elected by people belonging to one language community — Dutch, French and German speaking —no matter where they live. This government can decide on cultural, educational and language related issues.

Question 15.

What is majoritarianism? Is it wrong if a majority community in a country rules? Give reasons to justify your answer.

Answer:

A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is majoritarianism.

Yes, it is wrong if a majority community in a country rules.

The very idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power.

A positive attitude towards diversity and willingness to accommodate it, is good for democracy.

Power in the hands of one community will make the other community feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated.

The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of conflict and defiance of State power as in Sri Lanka.

Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks

Question 16.

Analyse how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils? (2014, 2015)

Mention the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy.

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government adopted a series of measures to establish Sinhala supremacy:

In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language.

The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University positions and government jobs.

The Constitution provided for State protection and fostering of Buddhism.

The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.

Therefore, the measures adopted by the government to establish Sinhala supremacy led to distrust between the two communities which turned the widespread conflict into a Civil War.

Sunday, July 25, 2021

X-L-1-Nationalism in Europe

NCERT Solutions – History Chapter 1

Exercise Page No. 28

1. Write a note on:

a. Guiseppe Mazzini

Answer:

During the 1830s, Giuseppe Mazzini had sought to put together a coherent programme for the unitary Italian Republic. He had also formed a secret society called ‘Young Italy’ for the dissemination of his goals.

b. Count Camillo de Cavour

Answer:

Led the movement to unify Italy
He was neither a revolutionary nor a democrat.
Through a tactful diplomatic alliance engineered by Cavour, Sardini-Piedmont succeeded in defeating the Austrian forces in 1859.

c. The Greek war of independence

Answer:

Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the fifteenth century. The growth of revolutionary nationalism in Europe sparked off a struggle for independence amongst the Greeks, which began in 1821.
Poets and artists lauded Greece as the cradle of European civilisation and mobilised public opinion to support its struggle against a Muslim empire.
Nationalists in Greece got support from other Greeks living in exile and also from many West Europeans, who had sympathies for ancient Greek culture.
Finally, the Treaty of Constantinople of 1832 recognised Greece as an independent nation.

d. Frankfurt parliament

Answer:

It was an all-German National assembly formed by Middle-Class professionals, businessmen and prosperous Artisans belonging to different German regions.
It was convened on 18 May 1848.
It was disbanded on 31 May 1849 as it lost support.

e. The role of women in nationalist struggles

Answer:

Women of the liberal middle classes combined their demands for constitutionalism with national unification. They took advantage of the growing popular unrest to push their demands for the creation of a nation-state on parliamentary principles – a constitution, freedom of the press and freedom of association.
Women had formed their own political associations, founded newspapers and taken part in political meetings and demonstrations.

2. What steps did the French revolutionaries take to create a sense of collective identity among the French people?

Answer:

The ideas of ‘La Patrie’ (the fatherland) and ‘Le Citoyen’ (the citizen) emphasised the notion of a united community enjoying equal rights under a constitution.
A new French flag, the tricolour, was chosen to replace the former royal standard.
New hymns were composed, oaths taken and martyrs commemorated, all in the name of the nation.
A centralised administrative system was put in place, and it formulated uniform laws for all citizens within its territory.
Internal customs duties and dues were abolished, and a uniform system of weights and measures was adopted.
Regional dialects were discouraged and French, as it was spoken and written in Paris, became the common language of the nation.
The revolutionaries further declared that it was the mission and the destiny of the French nation to liberate the peoples of Europe from despotism. In other words, to help other peoples of Europe to become nations.

3. Who were Marianne and Germania? What was the importance of the way in which they were portrayed?

Answer:

Female allegories were invented by artists in the nineteenth century to represent the nation.

Marianne, a popular Christian name – underlined the idea of a people’s nation.
Her characteristics were drawn from those of Liberty and the Republic – the red cap, the tricolour, the cockade. Statues of Marianne were erected in public squares to remind the public of the national symbol of unity and to persuade them to identify with it.
The image of Marianne was marked on coins and stamps.

Germania became the allegory of the German nation. In visual representations, Germania wears a crown of oak leaves, as the German oak stands for heroism.

4. Briefly trace the process of German unification.

Answer:

Nationalist sentiments were often mobilised by conservatives for promoting state power and achieving political domination over Europe. This can be observed in the process by which Germany and Italy came to be unified as nation-states.
Middle-class Germans tried to unite the different regions of German Confederation, but their plans were not materialised due to actions of large landowners called Junkers of Prussia. Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark and France ended in a Prussian victory. In Jan 1871, Prussian King William I was proclaimed German emperor.
Importance was given to modernising the currency, banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany.’

5. What changes did Napoleon introduce to make the administrative system more efficient in the territories ruled by him?

Answer:

The Civil Code of 1804 – usually known as the Napoleonic Code – did away with all the privileges based on birth, established equality before the law and secured the right to property. This Code was exported to the regions under French control. In the Dutch Republic, in Switzerland, in Italy and Germany, Napoleon simplified the administrative divisions, abolished the feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom and manorial dues. In the towns too, guild restrictions were removed. Transport and communication systems were improved. Peasants, artisans, workers and new businessmen enjoyed new-found freedom. Businessmen and small-scale producers of goods, in particular, began to realise that uniform law, standardised weights and measures, and a common national currency would facilitate the movement and exchange of goods and capital from one region to another.

Discuss:

1. Explain what is meant by the 1848 revolution of the liberals. What were the political, social and economic ideas supported by the liberals?

Answer:

In the year 1848, parallel to the revolts of the poor, another revolution was happening underway. Led by the educated middle classes, the unemployed, the starving peasants and workers in many European countries experienced this revolution of the liberals. Events of February 1848 in France had brought about the abdication of the monarch and a republic based on universal male suffrage had been proclaimed.
In other parts of Europe where independent nation-states did not yet exist – such as Germany, Italy, Poland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire – men and women of the liberal middle classes combined their demands for constitutionalism with national unification.
They took advantage of the growing popular unrest to push their demands for the creation of a nation-state on parliamentary principles – a constitution, freedom of the press and freedom of association.
The issue of extending political rights to women was a controversial one within the liberal movement, in which large numbers of women had participated actively over the years. Women had formed their own political associations, founded newspapers and had taken part in political meetings and demonstrations.

2. Choose three examples to show the contribution of culture to the growth of nationalism in Europe.

Answer:

Language:

Language played a very important role. After the Russian occupation, the Polish language was forced out of schools, and the Russian language was imposed everywhere. The Clergy in Poland began using language as a weapon of national resistance. Polish was used for Church gatherings and all religious instructions. The use of Polish came to be seen as a symbol of struggle against Russian dominance.

Romanticism:

It was a cultural movement which sought to develop a particular form of nationalist sentiment. Romantic artists and poets generally criticised the glorification of reason and science and focussed instead on emotions, intuition and mystic feelings. They tried to portray a common cultural past as the basis of a nation.

Folk poetry, folk dance, folk songs:

The true spirit of the nation was popularised through the above means. So collecting and recording these forms of folk culture was an essential part of nation-building.

3. Through a focus on any two countries, explain how nations developed over the nineteenth century.

Answer:

Focus countries – Germany and Italy.

Germany

Nationalist sentiments were often mobilised by conservatives for promoting state power and achieving political domination over Europe. This can be observed in the process by which Germany and Italy came to be unified as nation-states.
Middle-class Germans tried to unite the different regions of German Confederation, but their plans were not materialised due to actions of large landowners called the ‘Junkers of Prussia’. Three wars over seven years with Austria, Denmark, and France ended in a Prussian victory. In Jan 1871, the Prussian King William I was proclaimed German emperor.
Importance was given to modernising the currency, banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany.

Italy

During the 1830s, Mazzini sought to unify Italy. He had formed a secret society called ‘Young Italy’, and It had failed. Hence, the responsibility fell on Sardinia-Piedmont under its ruler King Victor Emmanuel II, to unify Italian states through war.
Austrian forces were defeated in 1859. Apart from Sardinia-Piedmont, a large number of volunteers had joined the cause under the leadership of Giuseppe Garibaldi. In 1860, they marched to South Italy and managed to defeat Spanish rulers. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed as the king of Italy.

4. How was the history of nationalism in Britain unlike the rest of Europe?

Answer:

Formation of the nation-state was not due to sudden upheaval or revolution. It was the result of a long-drawn-out process.
The primary identities of people who inhabited the British Isles were ethnic ones such as English, Welsh, Scot or Irish.
The Act of Union between England and Scotland resulted in the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Scottish people were forbidden from speaking their Gaelic language and from wearing their national dress. Many were driven out of their homeland.
Ireland was forcibly incorporated into the UK in 1801. This was achieved by the English helping the Protestants of Ireland to establish their dominance over the Catholics.
The symbols of the new Britain – the British flag (Union Jack), the national anthem (God save our Noble King) and the English language were actively promoted, and the older nations survived only as subordinate partners in this union.

5. Why did nationalist tensions emerge in the Balkans?

Answer:

It was a region of geographical and ethnic variation comprising modern-day Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro who were broadly known as Slavs.
A large part was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Gradually independence was declared from them.
The spread of the ideas of romantic nationalism in the Balkans, together with disintegration of the Ottoman Empire made this region very explosive.

Monday, July 12, 2021

X-MCQ-L-3-GEO-WATER RESOURCES

Class 10 S.SC GEOGRAPHY

MCQs

Chapter 3 Water Resources

1. Which one of the following statements is not an argument in favour of multi-purpose river projects? (Textbook)

(a) Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity.

(b) Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow help to control floods

(d) Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our industries and our homes.

Answer : c

2. Which is not a source of fresh water?

(a) Glaciers and ice sheets

(b) Groundwater (c) Surface run off

(d) Oceans

Answer : d

3. According to Falkan Mark, water stress occurs when:

(a) water availability is less than 1000 cubic metre per person per day.

(b) there is no water scarcity.

(d) water availability is more than 1000 cubic metre per person per day.

Answer : a

4. Which of the following are not causes of water scarcity?

(a) Growing population

(b) Growing of water intensive crop

(d) Individual wells and tubewells in farms

(e) Water harvesting technique

(f) Industries

(g) Roof top harvesting system

Answer : (e) and (g)

5. Bhakra Nangal River Valley Project is made on the river:

(a) Sutlej-Beas

(b) Ravi-Chenab

(d) Son

Answer : a

6. Hirakud Dam is constructed on the river:

(a) Ganga

(b) Manjira

(d) Mahanadi

Answer : d

7. Water of Bhakra Nangal Project is being used mainly for:

(a) hydel power and irrigation

(b) fish breeding and navigation

(d) flood control

Answer : a

8. The diversion channels seen in the Western Himalayas are called:

(a) Guls or Kuls

(b) Khadins

(d) Recharge pits

Answer : a

9. Agricultural fields which are used as rainfed storage structures are called:

(a) Kuls

(b) Khadins/Johads

(d) None of the above

Answer : b

10. Underground tanks seen in Rajasthan to store rainwater for drinking is called:

(a) Tankas

(b) Khadin

(d) Kuls

Answer : a

11. In Western Rajasthan today plenty of water is available due to:

(a) rooftop water harvesting

(b) perennial Rajasthan Canal

(d) none of the above

Answer : b

12. Bamboo drip irrigation system is prevalent in:

(a) Manipur

(b) Meghalaya

(d) Madhya Pradesh

Answer : b

13. The only State which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses is:

(a) Andhra Pradesh

(b) Karnataka

(d) West Bengal

Answer : c

14. The remote village that has earned the rare distinction of being rich in rainwater?

(a) Gari

(b) Kaza

(d) none of the above

Answer : c

15. Which one of the following is not an adverse effect of irrigation?

(a) Irrigation changes cropping pattern

(b) Water intensive crops are grown in dry areas

(d) Increases crop yield

Answer : d

16. Which of the following social movements is/ are not a resistance to multi-purpose projects?

(a) Narmada Bachao Andolan

(b) Tehri Dam Andolan

(d) Chipko Movement

Answer : (c) and (d)

By-Vineeta Arya (TGT S.SC)

Kv Dogra L

X-NOTES-WATER RESOURCES GEO-L-3

Water Resources

Class 10 -Notes (Social Science)

Geography - Chapter 3

Water and its facts: Three-fourth of the earth’s surface is covered with water but only a small proportion of it accounts for freshwater that can be put to use. Water is a renewable resource.

Fresh water: 96.5 per cent of the total volume of world’s water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent exists as fresh water. 70 per cent of the fresh water occurs as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and the mountainous regions of the world. Less than 30 per cent is stored as groundwater in the world’s acquirers. Fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water. This is continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. All the water moves within the hydrological cycle making water a renewable resource.

Three fresh water sources are: Precipitation—from rainfall; Surface water—in rivers, lakes, etc.; Ground water—water stored in underground acquirers which gets recharged by rainfall.

Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management-

The availability of water resources varies over space and time.

1.Water scarcity is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.

2. Water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season agriculture.

3. In some areas, water is sufficiently available to meet the needs of the people. But, those areas still suffer from water scarcity due to bad quality of water.

The need of the hour is to conserve and manage our water resources:

1.To safeguard ourselves from health hazards.

2.To ensure food security, continuation of our livelihoods and productive activities.

3.To prevent degradation of our natural ecosystems.

Water scarcity: Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low rainfall or drought prone areas.

There are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water:

- Large growing population;

-In the agricultural sector,

-water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry- season agriculture;

-More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate higher food production, i. e., for doing multiple cropping and for HYV seeds;

- There is greater demand for water with growing urbanization and industrialization; An unequal access to water among different social groups;

-The quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture;

-Excessive use of water by industries which also require water to generate hydro-electric power to run them; and Over exploitation of water in the urban areas.

-Adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground water resources:

-Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to falling ground water levels. It will adversely affect water availability.

This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of the people. Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the ecological cycle.

Main causes of water pollution: Domestic wastes, especially urban sewers; industrial wastes are disposed off in the water without proper treatment; chemical effluents from industries and from agricultural sector; and many human activities, e.g., religious rituals and immersing of idols, etc. in the water also pollute water.

Measures for water conservation: Do not overdraw the ground water, recharge it by techniques like rainwater harvesting; tapping rainwater in reservoirs, watershed development programmes, etc. Avoid wastage of water at all levels and do not pollute the water. Adopting water conserving techniques of irrigation, e.g., drip irrigation and sprinklers etc., especially in dry areas.

Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management :

In ancient times, we used to conserve water by constructing sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams built of stone rubble, reservoirs or lakes, embankments and canals for irrigation. We have continued this tradition in modern India by building dams in most of our river basins.

DAM- A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. A dam is the reservoir and not the whole structure.

Uses of Dam: Dams are built: To impound rivers and rainwater that can be used later to irrigate agricultural fields. For electricity generation. Water supply for domestic and industrial uses. Flood control. Recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.

Side effects of Creating Dams:

1.Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow.

2.Poorer the habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.

3. Fragment rivers make it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate.

4.Dams created on the floodplains submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of time.

4.Creating of large dams has been the cause of many new environmental movements like the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’ etc.

5.Many times local people had to give up their land, livelihood and their control over resources for the construction of the dam.

Most of the objections to the projects arose due to their failure to achieve the purposes for which they were built. Most of the dams were constructed to control floods but, these dams have triggered floods. Dams have also caused extensive soil erosion. Excessive use of water has resulted in earthquakes, caused water-borne diseases and pests and pollution

Multipurpose river valley projects —’The Temples of Modem India’: Jawahar Lal Nehru pro-claimed that multipurpose projects are ‘The Temples of Modern India’, because they were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to development and progress. He believed that these projects with their integrated water resource management approach would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy.

Advantages of Multipurpose River valley projects: They bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity and also provide water for irrigation; These projects generate electricity for industries and our homes; They help in controlling floods; These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.

Disadvantages of Multipurpose River valley projects: Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow; Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir; Lack of sediments results in (a) rockier stream bed and (b) poorer habitat for the rivers aquatic life; The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil, leading to its decomposition over time; They affect the fertility levels of the soil; cause large scale displacement of local communities.

Traditional rainwater harvesting methods practiced in different parts of the country:

-In mountainous areas ‘Guls’ and ‘Kul’s’ the diversion channels were built for agriculture. ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store drinking water, especially in Rajasthan.

-Inundation channels for irrigation were developed in the flood plains of West Bengal. ---In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures, e.g., ‘Kadin’s’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johad’s in other parts of Rajasthan. In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer areas for saving the rainwater. Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the ‘tanka’ to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.

Interesting fact: Tamil Nadu is the first state in India which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters.

By-Vineeta Arya (TGT S.sc) KV DOGRA LINES MEERUT.

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