Water Resources

In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields are converted into rain fed storage structures that allow the water to stand and moisten the soil like the 'Khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan. In areas of Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking water. These tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system and were built inside the main house or the courtyard. They were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. Rain falling on the rooftops is collected and stored in the tankas.

1. Storage tanks are now a days not so common. The rain water is now a days collected and is guided to hand pump, bore well to recharge ground water. The rooftop rain water may be guided to an abandoned well or a soak-pit constructed in order to recharge ground water.
2. Construction of percolation ponds in catchment area is done. These ponds collect runoff water.
3. In few houses where tanks are still used to store rain water, modern methods are used for its safe usage. Cleanliness of water tank is maintained and there is arrangement for proper filtration of water.

Water becomes a renewable resource because it is naturally replenished through the hydrological cycle. The water on earth is converted into water vapour that form clouds. The clouds become heavier and water comes back to earth in form of precipitation.

Insufficiency of fresh water to meet the basic needs like drinking, washing and bathing etc. is called scarcity of water.

Main causes of water scarcity are:

• Growing population.
• Water pollution.
• Climate change.
• Inefficient water management and water harvesting techniques.

Advantages of multi-purpose river projects:

1. Provides water to drought prone areas suffering from water scarcity.
2. Flood control.
3. Electricity generation.

Disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects:

1. Large scale displacements and loss of livelihood.
2. Alters the natural flow of rivers.
3. Affects aquatic fauna.

Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood.

1. Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have added to water requirement and further aggravated the problem.
2. Regulating and damming of rivers affect the river's natural flow and its sediment flow.
3. In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
4. Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater water harvesting is declining because of high water availability due to the Indira Gandhi Canal.