Introduction

Rain, rivers, lakes, and ponds are important sources of water in India.

India receives 2^nd highest rainfall for a country of its size. 1st is Brazil.

Water availability is 2000 cum/person/year and by 2050 it will be 3500 cum/person/year but availability shall be 1200 cum/person/year.

Rivers are also an important water sources. The Himalayan and peninsular rivers are the two types of rivers.

Himalayan River	Peninsular river
Perennial	Seasonal
Antecedent	Superimposed
Flood prone	Not flood-prone
Large, huge flood plain, low slope, and forms meander.	No shifting of course – due to hard rock surface, no shifting, of course, small catchment area.
Easily navigable	Waterfalls at any course
Can be diverted for irrigation	Can’t be diverted for irrigation without pumps as the river basin is located on the higher plateau
Waterfalls at the youthful stage only	Waterfalls at any stage

 TABLE 1: HIMALAYAN AND PENINSULAR RIVER

Groundwater resources:

The aquifer is the storage pool for groundwater. It stores rainwater that percolates through the soil or cracks. When all pores are filled it’s called the saturation zone. The upper layer of the saturation zone is called the water table.

The groundwater capacity of India is 30-40 million hectares. It is found in selected locations only:

1. Northern alluvial plains. Peninsular river basins and deltas of rivers.
2. Bhabhar [foothills of the Himalayas]
3. Eastern and western coastal plains
4. Peninsular granite and gneissic rocks.

Ganga rivers groundwater reserve is highest at 17 million hectares. Indus river has a groundwater usage rate of 80%.

India’s groundwater use is more than the replenishment rate and so aquifers are drying up. 60% of India’s irrigation is through tube wells and dug wells. This hurts the water resources. Also, unplanned urbanization, increasing population, and overuse affect it.

Fluoride, arsenic, and nitrate fertilizers are affecting underground water resources.

Watershed:

Geo hydrological unit that drains at a common point. E.g: The main river and its catchment area.

In watershed management, we construct small check dams to stop the flow of water so it can percolate. No large dams and no stopping of the river flow.

Afforestation on river banks, and soil conservation are other methods.

Drought-prone area Program + Desert development program + integrated wasteland development program  = Integrated watershed Management Program under the department of land resources, ministry of rural development.

Watershed management can work successfully under community participation, decentralization, and a strong Panchayati Raj system.

TYPES OF LAKE’S

• • A lake is a natural depression filled with water. They also help in the prevention of sudden floods and droughts. The lakes of India have different origins. Some of the important lakes of India have been described briefly in the following section:

• • • The Tectonic Lakes: These are formed due to the fractures and faults in the earth’s crust.

• • • The Crater Lakes: Crater lakes are formed when the craters and calderas are filled with water.

• • • Glacial lakes: These lakes are the result of glacial erosion

• • • Fluvial lakes: Fluvially originated lakes are generally temporary and are soon obliterated.

• • • Aeolian lakes: These are small temporary hollows or depressions lying on the wind-blown sand surface.

• • • Dissolution lakes: These lakes are formed due to a depression of the surface by the underground dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone and gypsum.

• • • Lagoons: These are formed by the deposition of sandbars along the sea coast.

• • • Landslide lakes: These lakes are produced by landslides and rockfalls causing obstruction in the course of streams.

 

River	Description
Bhimtal	Situated near the town of Bhimtal in the Kumaun Divison of Uttarakhand, it is a fascinating lake with an island in the center.
Chilka Lake	It is the largest coastal lake in India. The lake was formed due to the silting action of the Mahanadi River which drains into the northern end of the lake.
Dal Lake	Dal is a famous lake in Srinagar.
Kaliveli Lake	The lake is one of the largest wetlands in peninsular India.
Kolleru Lake	The lake was an important habitat for estimated migratory birds such as Grey or Spot-billed pelicans. Rich in flora and fauna, it attracts birds from Siberia and eastern Europe between the months of October and March.
Loktak Lake	It is also called the only ‘Floating Islands Lake’ in the world due to the floating Phundis (floating islands) on it.
Sambhar Lake	It is the largest salt lake in India.