1. What’s the solution ?

Soil in a garden gets washed away with the water due to the slope of the land.

Ans: The garden needs to have a sufficient number of trees so that the underground root system creates a mesh that holds the soil firmly and prevents erosion.

2. Use your brain power !

How should roads and footpaths be built to make rainwater seep into the ground?

Ans: In order to allow water to flow into the drains and then seep into the soil, roads and footpaths should be constructed slantingly. Drains should also be created at the side of the footpath.

3. Answer the following questions.

(a) What conditions prevail during a famine ?

Ans: During a famine, the water level falls in rivers, wells, lakes, bunds, and dams. Some of these may even go dry. The land also dries up due to evaporation. Humans and animals suffer from the scarcity of water. There is no water for agriculture.

(b) What works are undertaken to make water available even after the rainy season ?

Ans: The government and the people come together to undertake several works, such as building smaller reservoirs, contour bunding, stopping the water of the smaller streams by constructing bunds or bandharas, etc.

(c) Why is it necessary to stop rainwater ?

Ans: Rainwater must be stopped in order to supply all the water needed for the year. It percolates into the ground when it is stopped. Trees receive more water as groundwater levels rise. The land can be farmed, and wells receive ample water as well.

(d) What is meant by water management?

Ans: Taking steps to ensure that rainwater will be available even in the period after the rainy season is called ‘water management’.

4. True or false? Correct the wrong statements.

(a) We get rainwater throughout the year.

Ans: False. We get rain water only for four months from June to September.

(b) During a famine, the government moves people and animals temporarily to safe places.

Ans: True