Question

Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out.
(ii) Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store

Class 10 NCERT SST​

Answer 1

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(i) Houses in the semi arid regions of Rajasthan have traditionally constructed tanks for storing drinking water. The tanks could be as large as a big room. They are big and are a part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system. The tanks are constructed inside the main house or the courtyard and are connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The rain falling on the rooftop travels down and is stored in the underground tanks. The first spell of rain is not collected as this water cleans the roof and the pipes. The rainwater from the subsequent spells is collected. This water is used untill the next rainy season and is a reliable source of water even after other sources have dried up. The tanks also help in cooling the houses as rooms built around them have generally low temperatures due to conduction.

(ii) Traditional methods of rainwater harvesting like 'the rooftop method' are becoming popular in India. In Gendathur village, Mysore, about 200 households have adopted the rooftop rainwater harvesting method, thereby making the village rich in rainwater. The state of Tamil Nadu has made it compulsory for all the houses to have rooftop rainwater harvesting structures There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in Shillong, Meghalaya. Rooftop harvesting is common across the towns and villages of the Thar. In Meghalaya, a 200 year old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes is prevalent. About 18 to 20 litres of water enters the bamboo pipe system and gets transported over hundreds of metres.