Question

Give reasons for the following.

Tank irrigation is more popular in the Deccan plateau.

Answer 1

1. The hard and impermeable rock structure prevents precipitation from leaking or percolating underground, naturally storing the collected water on the surface.
2. Natural undulating terrain and depressions make perfect physical hollows for building simple earthen or stone walls (bunds) to create reservoirs without costly excavation.
3. Seasonal and erratic monsoon rainfall require the collection and storage of massive quantities of surface runoff during rainy months for usage during the long dry seasons.
4. Difficulties in digging wells or canals emerge because boring through the plateau's strong, crystalline granitic or basaltic rocks is highly difficult and financially unviable for ordinary farmers.
5. Due to the scarcity of long-term rivers, local streams are rain-fed and totally dry up in the summer, making independent surface storage tanks the most dependable water source.