Revision: India - People and Economy >> Water Resources Geography Commerce (English Medium) Class 12 CBSE

Key Points: Water Conservation Practices > Watershed Management

A watershed is a geographical area from which water drains to a common point like a river, lake or pond.
Watershed management means the planned conservation of soil and water resources in a watershed area.
It includes preventing surface run-off by building small embankments and barriers.
It helps in storing rainwater and recharging groundwater through percolation pits, recharge wells, borewells and dugwells.
Watershed management ensures efficient use of water, reduces soil erosion and supports agriculture.

Key Points: Rainwater Harvesting

Meaning and Purpose: Rainwater harvesting is the method of collecting and storing rainwater for domestic use and groundwater recharge. It is a low-cost and eco-friendly technique.
Benefits: It increases water availability, raises groundwater table, improves water quality (reduces fluoride and nitrates), prevents soil erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion in coastal areas.
Traditional Methods: In rural India, rainwater is stored in ponds, tanks, lakes, etc. In Rajasthan, traditional structures like Kund and Tanka are used to store rainwater.
National Water Policy 2012: It emphasizes water conservation, treating water as an economic resource, community participation, efficient use, climate change adaptation, and giving priority to drinking water and food security.
Jal Kranti Abhiyan (2015–16): Launched to ensure water security by promoting water conservation, artificial recharge, pollution control, creation of ‘Jal Gram’, and spreading public awareness through community participation.

Key Points: Water Resources of India

Water Availability: India has 2.45% of world’s land, 4% of water resources and over 17% of world population. Total utilisable water is only 1,122 cubic km out of total availability.
Surface Water: Major sources are rivers, lakes, ponds and tanks. Although annual river flow is high, only about 32% (690 cubic km) can be utilised due to geographical constraints. Ganga–Brahmaputra basins hold about 60% of surface water.
Groundwater Resources: Total replenishable groundwater is 432 cubic km. States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu use groundwater heavily, leading to depletion.
Lagoons and Backwaters: Coastal states like Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal have lagoons and lakes. Though water is brackish, it is used for fishing and irrigation.
Water Utilisation Pattern: Agriculture dominates water use — 89% of surface water and 92% of groundwater is used for irrigation. Industrial and domestic use is comparatively low but increasing.
Importance of Irrigation: Irrigation is necessary due to uneven and seasonal rainfall. It supports crops like rice, sugarcane and jute, enables multiple cropping, and increases productivity.
Problems of Overuse: Excessive groundwater use has caused falling water table, and problems like fluoride (Rajasthan, Maharashtra) and arsenic contamination (West Bengal, Bihar).

Key Points: Emerging Water Problems

Declining Per Capita Water Availability: Rapid population growth and rising demand are reducing per capita water availability in India.
Water Pollution: Water gets polluted by industrial, agricultural and domestic wastes, which reduce water quality and make it unfit for human use.
Impact on Rivers and Groundwater: Pollutants contaminate rivers, lakes and oceans, and may also seep into groundwater. Organic and bacterial pollution are major concerns.
Highly Polluted Rivers: Rivers like Yamuna (Delhi–Etawah stretch), Ganga (Kanpur & Varanasi), Sabarmati, Gomti, Musi, Adyar and Cooum are severely polluted.
Need for Water Conservation: Sustainable management requires rainwater harvesting, watershed development, recycling, reuse and conjunctive use of water.
Weak Implementation of Laws: Acts like the Water Act (1974) and Environment Protection Act (1986) exist, but poor enforcement has limited their effectiveness.
Recycle and Reuse: Recycling wastewater for industries, gardening and other non-drinking purposes can conserve fresh water and improve long-term availability.

Key Points: Watershed Management

Meaning: Watershed management refers to the proper conservation and management of surface and groundwater resources within a watershed area.
Main Objectives: It aims to prevent runoff, promote groundwater recharge (through percolation tanks, check dams, recharge wells), and ensure balanced use of natural and human resources.
Community Participation: Success of watershed development depends largely on active involvement of local people and Gram Panchayats.
Government Programmes: Major initiatives include Haryali Project and Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL), which focus on water conservation and behavioural change towards sustainable water use.
Water Harvesting Measures: Structures like johads, percolation tanks, check dams and dug ponds are built to store rainwater and recharge groundwater. Tamil Nadu has made rainwater harvesting compulsory in buildings.
Ralegan Siddhi Example: In Maharashtra, watershed development through voluntary labour, banning water-intensive crops, afforestation and social reforms transformed the village economically and environmentally.
Need for Awareness: Though some projects have succeeded, many are still at early stages. Greater awareness and integrated water resource management are essential for sustainable water availability.