Introduction to Water Resource Engineering

1               Introduction 

1.      What are the objectives of water resource development? (May 2006 5m)

-          Mention the objectives of water resource development.

Ans. The development of water resource involves the concept of planning, designing, construction and operation of facilities to control and utilize water effectively and efficiently. The following are the objectives of water resource development;

·         To have agricultural production.

·         To generate required power.

·         To control and reduce the damage caused by flood.

·         To recharge ground water.

·         To protect the economic development.

·         To utilize for the purpose of navigation by transportation of goods and passenger.

·         To have recreational use of water.

·         To reduce pollution.

·         To achieve proper drainage.

·         To achieve sediment control.

·         To accelerate the public works.

·         To facilitate aquatic life.

·         To have a control of precipitation within meteorological limits.

·         To have watershed management- conservation and improvement of soil, etc.

2.      Define irrigation. Briefly explain the necessity of irrigation. (May 2006 5m)

-          What is irrigation? What are its necessities?

Ans. Irrigation may be defined as the process of supplying water to the land by artificial means for the purpose of cultivation. The water supplied to the land naturally by rain is usually not sufficient for the proper growth of the crop, therefore, the objective of irrigation is to supplement the natural supply of water to land to obtain the optimum yield from the crop grown on the land. Generally, the following factors lead to the necessity of irrigation.

·         Low rainfall or non-uniform rainfall.

·         Additional requirement of water to the commercial crops.

·         To have a controlled and planned water supply.

3.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of irrigation? (May 2005 5m, Dec 2005 5m, May 2006 5m, May 2009 8m, Nov 2011 5m)

-          List the advantages and disadvantages of irrigation.

-          What are the benefits of irrigation? (May 2008)

Ans. Advantages-The following are the advantages of irrigation;

·         Protection from famine.

·         Improvement in yield and value of crop.

·         Generation of hydroelectric power.

·         Inland irrigation.

·         The irrigation canals can be used for domestic and industrial water supply.

·         Improvement in transportation due to road facility on canal banks.

·         Increase in ground water storage.

·         Improves canal plantation.

·         Increase in food production.

·         Fish industry can be developed along the banks of reservoir.

·         Increases the economy of the country.

·         Overall development of the country.

   Disadvantages-The following are the disadvantages of irrigation;

·         Irrigation results in colder and damper climate, causing outbreak of diseases like malaria.

·         Water logging is a major concern due to over irrigation, resulting in reduced crop yields.

·         Cost of irrigation is some times more than the revenue generated.

·         Presence of canals affect the drainage conditions of the area.

·         The irrigation water gets mixed with nitrates in the soil and seeps into the ground water to some extent, and pollute the ground water.

·         Deep canals may prove dangerous for people who do not know swimming.

·         Irrigation projects requires huge capitals, and also skilled labors are required for the construction.

4.      What is a multipurpose project? Name the major multipurpose irrigation project in India. (Nov 2010 5m)

Ans. The projects which are planned and constructed to perform various purposes together are called as multipurpose projects. The reservoir not only serves one but various purposes such as protection of downstream areas from floods and serves as water supply unit for irrigation and industrial purposes. Some of the important multipurpose projects in India are as follows;

·         Bhakra Nangal Project – Himachal Pradesh

·         Tihari water Project – Uttarakhand

·         Nagarjuna Sagar Project – Andra Pradesh

·         Sardar Sarovar Project – Gujrat

·         Krishna Raja Sagar- Mysore

·         Tungabhadra Prpject – Hospet

·         Mahi Project

·         Gandak Project

·         Kosi Project

5.      Name the major water resources (or rivers) in India.

Ans. The major water resource in India are as listed below;

·         Narmada

·         Tapathi

·         Mahanadi

·         Godavari

·         Krishna

·         Cauvery

·         Pennar

·         Ganges and its tributaries

·         Indus and its tributaries.

·         River Brahmaputra.

6.      Name the major water resource projects in Karnataka.

Ans. The major water resource projects in Karnataka are as follows;

·         Tungabhadrs project – Hospet

·         Upper Krishna project – Alamatti

·         Krishna Raja Sagar project – Mysore

·         Harangi project – Kodagu

·         Navilterth project – Savadatti

·         Linganamakki project – Jog

·         Vani Vilasa Sagar – Hiriyur

·         Basava sagar project - Narayanpura

·         Nugu reservoir – H.D Kote, Mysore, etc.

7.      Name the major water resource projects in the world.

Ans. Following are the main water resource projects in the world;

·         Syncrude tailings project – Canada

·         Tihari water project – Uttarakhand, India

·         Bhakra Nangal Project – Himachal Pradesh

·         Chapeton project – Argentina

·         Pati project - Argentina

·         Fort peak project – Montana

·         Cipasang project –Indonesia

·         Three gorges project – China, etc.

8.      Write a note on world water resource.

Ans. Water is the most important natural resource and is vital for all living beings on the earth. Oceans cover about 71% of the total land surface and has 97% of water. 2% of water is present in frozen form as ice caps. Deep underground resource cover about 0.31%. Thus 99.31% of water is of no use to man. The remaining 0.69% of water represents the fresh water resource. Among fresh water, rivers and lakes holds 3% and the atmosphere holds 3%. Remaining percentage is distributed in other fresh water resources.

9.      Write a short note on India’s water resource.

Ans. The main source of water for India is rainfall over the most of the parts and snowfall in the north region. The rainfall varies from place to place every year. The average annual rainfall is about 119.4 cm. The total annual water resources are approximately equal to 4000km³. The total annual surface water flow is 1800km³, from which 150km³ is stored in various reservoirs, tanks etc. 1650km³ water is retained on soil and it goes to the atmosphere as evaporation and transpiration. 

Reference:

·         Irrigation and Hydraulics Structures, by S.K. Garg. Khanna Publisher, New Delhi, India.

·         Irrigation and Water Power Engineering, by B.C. Punmia, Pande, B.B. Lal. Lakshmi Publications, New Delhi, India.