10th Class Social Studies

Question: 70% of our surface water resources are polluted. Why?
(Reflection on Contemporary Issues and Questions)

Answers: Surface of water pollution occurs due to discharge of pollutants in the water bodies without any treatment to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution adversely affects not only aquatic plants and animals, but it also affects human beings and ecosystems.

1) Urban source contributes water pollutants such as sewage and garbage.
2) Industrial effluents from the industries.
3) Various types of chemicals used in the chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
4) Washing of animals, clothes etc.
5) Dumping solid wastes and littering by humans, in rivers, lakes and oceans.
6) Oil pollution caused by oil spills from tankers, oil does not dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge.
7) Acid rains also pollute the surface of water.
8) Fallout of radioactive substances is a very dangerous source of water pollution.

Question:

How would it help if there was a government river basin authority for over all planning of water use? (Appreciations and Sensitivity)

Answer: There are so many conflicts regarding the use of water in between the states, regions for different uses.
1) The river basin authority measuring the quantum of water.
2) Explain the importance of water usage.
3) Allocation of water, among the states based on the rules and regulations.
4) Board can control the waste of water.
5) Distributing water for drinking and domestic purpose.
6) The board can estimate the annual rainfall, storage, and annual flow.
7) Water conservation activities are encouraged.
8) Based on the quantum of water, the board can suggest the kinds of crops cultivation.
9) Encroachment of public lands for cultivation can be controlled.

Question:

What are the different conflicts in the use of water for Tungabhadra river basin? (Reflection on Contemporary Issues and Questions)

Answer: There are various conflicts in the use of water in Tungabhadra river basin are:
1) Tungabhadra is the major tributary of the Krishna river.
2) It was constructed and it was the joint venture of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
3) The height and the water storage capacity of the river is the apple of discard between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
4) Tribunals have given judgements on the water sharing proportions between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
5) But it is still a burning water dispute between the states.

Question: How significant are the laws, people’s actions, in the context of water resources? Write a short note based on the ideas discussed in the last two sections of the chapter.
(Reading the text (given), Understanding and Interpretation)

Answer: Water is a collective pool resource.
The current laws about ground water in many states are both out dated and inappropriate.
The basic link between access to ground water and land ownership on which these rules are based are flawed. Land owners are not restricted in the amount of water they can take out.

Each farmer competes to go deeper than their neighbour and soon all tube wells upto a certain depth dry up.
Water use for any region, whether small water shed or river basin has to take into account all the inflows and outflows.

Inefficient and unfair way of water usage should be discouraged. Hiware bazar should be the role model.
Water resources require both collective action at the local level and appropriate laws and policies at the state and national level.

Question:

In what way is water bought and sold in your area and for what purpose do you think their should be some checks and balances for this? Discuss.
(Appreciation and Sensitivity and Reflection on Contemporary Issues)

Answer: Water in our area is bought and sold for various purposes like drinking, construction and domestic purposes.
Water is bought in the form of municipality drinking water.
For agricultural purpose to get water we pay the money to the owner of boring pumps.

Even drinking water is purchased by using packed water.
This can be controlled.
i) Creating awareness among the people.
ii) Using alternate resources.