Read the passage and answer the questions:
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a method to capture and store rainwater for various uses. It is also used to recharge groundwater aquifers. It increases water availability, checks the declining groundwater table, improves the quality of groundwater through dilution of contaminants, like fluoride and nitrates, prevents soil erosion, and flooding and arrests salt water intrusion in coastal areas if used to recharge aquifers. Rainwater harvesting has been practised through various methods by different communities in the country for a long time. Traditional rainwater harvesting in rural areas is done by using surface storage bodies, like lakes, ponds, irrigation tanks, etc. In Rajasthan, rainwater harvesting structures locally known as Kund or Tanka (a covered underground tank) are constructed near or in the house or village to store harvested rainwater.
There is a wide scope to use rainwater harvesting technique to conserve precious water resource. It can be done by harvesting rainwater on rooftops and open spaces. Harvesting rainwater also decreases the community dependence on groundwater for domestic use. Besides bridging the demand- supply gap, it can also save energy to pump groundwater as recharge leads to rise in groundwater table. These days rainwater harvesting is being taken up on massive scale in many states in the country. Urban areas can specially benefit from rainwater harvesting as water demand has already outstripped supply in most of the cities and towns. Apart from the above mentioned factors, desalinisation of water particularly in coastal areas and transfer of water from water surplus areas to water deficit areas through inter-linking of rivers can be important remedies for solving water problem in India.
Which is NOT a solution of current water problem of India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Salt water intrusions in coastal areas
Option (1) Desalinisation of water — A solution (Incorrect). Removing the salt from water, particularly in coastal areas, is one of the remedies the passage names.
Option (2) Inter-linking of rivers — A solution (Incorrect). Moving water from surplus areas to deficit areas by inter-linking rivers is another remedy.
Option (3) Rainwater harvesting — A solution (Incorrect). The whole passage is about rainwater harvesting as a way to conserve water.
Option (4) Salt water intrusions in coastal areas — Not a solution (Correct). Salt water entering coastal groundwater is a problem, one that rainwater harvesting arrests when it is used to recharge aquifers.
NCERT (2025-26): “Rainwater Harvesting … Rainwater harvesting is a method to capture and store rainwater for various uses. It is also used to recharge groundwater aquifers. It is a low cost and eco-friendly technique for preserving every drop of water by guiding the rain water to borewell, pits and wells. Rainwater harvesting increases water availability, checks the declining groundwater table, improves the quality of groundwater through dilution of contaminants, like fluoride and nitrates, prevents soil erosion, and flooding and arrests salt water intrusion in coastal areas if used to recharge aquifers.… Apart from the above mentioned factors, the issue desalinisation of water particularly in coastal areas and brackish water in arid and semi-arid areas, transfer of water from water surplus areas to water deficit areas through inter-linking of rivers can be important remedies for solving water problem in India…” |