Class 12 Geography chapter 4 ncert solutions: Water Resources class 12 questions and answers
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Geography |
| Chapter | Chapter 4 |
| Chapter Name | Water Resources class 12 ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
Are you looking for class 12 geography chapter 4 question answer? Now you can download Water Resources question answer pdf from here.
Question 1: Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below
Question 1.(i): Which one of the following types describes water as a resource?
(a) Abiotic resource
(b) Non-renewable Resources
(c) Biotic Resource
(d) cyclic Resource
Answer 1.(i): (d) Cyclic Resource
Question 1.(ii): Which one of the following south Indian states has the highest groundwater utilisation (in per cent) of its total ground water potential?
(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Karnataka
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Kerala
Answer 1.(ii): (a) Tamil Nadu
Question 1.(iii): The highest proportion of the total water used in the country is in which one of the following sectors?
(a) Irrigation
(b) Industries
(c) Domestic use
(d) None of the above
Answer 1.(iii): (a) Irrigation
Question 2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
Question 2.(i): It is said that the water resources in India have been depleting very fast. Discuss the factors responsible for depletion of water resources?
Answer 2.(i): It is said that the water resources in India have been depleting very fast. Discuss the factors responsible for depletion of water resources.
- The availability of water per person is decreasing.
- The use of water is increasing due to increasing population.
- Water resources are being used in Industrial Sector at a fast rate.
- Water is used for irrigation to increase the agricultural productivity.
- Water pollution is increasing.
Question 2.(ii): What factors are responsible for the highest groundwater development in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu?
Answer 2.(ii): Groundwater development in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu has been intense due to irrigated agriculture because:
- The development of irrigation to increase agricultural production and these were the target regions for green revolution.
- Spatio-temporal variability in rainfall makes irrigation a necessary alternative for agriculture in the country.
- Provision of irrigation makes multiple cropping possible.
Question 2.(iii): Why the share of agricultural sector in total water used in the country is expected to decline?
Answer 2.(iii): At present the agriculture use accounts for the highest share of utilization for both ground and surface water resources. The main reason being that the agriculture accounts or the largest share in economy of the country, but in recent times the share of secondary and tertiary activities have been rising in the economy. This in turn will reduce the share of the agriculture and increase the share of industrial and domestic sector in the consumption of all resources including the water resources of the country.
Question 2.(iv): What can be possible impacts of consumption of contaminated/unclean water on the people?
Answer 2.(iv): Contaminated water intake is one of the biggest reasons for many chronic diseases. The intake of contaminated water is the cause of severe water borne disease and is also one of the main causes of high infant mortality rates. Contaminated water is the reason for several diseases like Cholera, typhoid, etc. which are among the major and common diseases in India.
Question 3: Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
Question 3.(i): Discuss the availability of water resources in the country and factors that determine its spatial distribution?
Answer 3.(i): India occupies about 2.45% of the world’s surface area, holds 4% of the world’s water resources, and is home to approximately 16% of the global population. The total annual water availability in India from precipitation is about 4,000 cubic kilometers. However, the utilisable water from both surface water and replenishable groundwater is estimated to be 1,869 cubic kilometers. Of this, only 60% can be effectively utilized, making the total utilisable water resource in the country around 1,122 cubic kilometers.
Factors that determine the spatial distribution of water resources:
- Catchment Area and River Basin Size: The amount of water flow in a river largely depends on the size of its catchment area or river basin, as well as the amount of rainfall received within that area.
- Monsoon Dependency: Precipitation in India is mainly concentrated during the monsoon season, making water availability seasonal and geographically uneven.
- Geographic Variations in Precipitation: Regions like the catchment areas of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Barak rivers receive relatively higher precipitation. These regions, though covering only about one-third of the country’s total area, contribute to about 60% of India’s total surface water resources.
- Regional Disparities in River Flow: Rivers in southern India, such as the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, have already been harnessed to a large extent for water use. In contrast, the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins, despite having significant water flow, have not yet been fully utilized for irrigation and other purposes.
Question 3.(ii): The depleting water resources may lead to social conflicts and disputes. Elaborate it with suitable examples?
Answer 3.(ii): Water is a cyclic resource with abundant supplies on the globe. Approximately, 71 per cent of the earth’s surface is covered with it but freshwater constitutes only about 3 per cent of the total water. In fact, a very small proportion of freshwater is effectively available for human use.
The availability of freshwater varies over space and time. The tensions and disputes on sharing and control of this scarce resource are becoming contested issues among communities, regions, and states.
- The sharing of waters of rivers of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh is a contesting issue.
- Since long, the dispute is going on between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the waters of Kaveri River.
- The sharing of waters of Narmada Basin is a dispute between the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Question 3.(iii): What is watershed management? Do you think it can play an important role in sustainable development?
Answer 3.(iii): Watershed management refers to efficient management and conservation of surface and groundwater resources with community participation. It involves the prevention of runoff and storage and recharge of groundwater through various methods like percolation tanks, recharge wells, etc.
Yes, watershed management plays an important role in sustainable development. It includes conservation, regeneration, and judicious use of all resources – natural (like land, water, plants, and animals) and human within a watershed. Watershed management aims at bringing about a balance between natural resources on the one hand and society on the other. The success of watershed development largely depends upon community participation.
The Central and State Governments have initiated many watershed development and management programs in the country like “Hariyali”, “Neeru-Meeru”, and “Arvary Pani Sansad”. Watershed development projects in some areas have been successful in rejuvenating environment and economy. There is a need to generate awareness regarding benefits of watershed development and management among people in the country, and through this integrated water resource management approach water availability can be ensured on sustainable basis.