Question

Read the given source and answer the questions that follow:

RAINWATER HARVESTING Many thought that given the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi purpose projects, water harvesting system was a viable alternative, both socio-economically and environinentally. In ancient India, along with the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition of water harvesting system. People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and their water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the 'guls' or 'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture. 'Rooftop rainwater harvesting' was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan. In the flood plams of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the 'khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.

1. Why is water harvesting system a viable alternative?
2. Describe the process of 'rooftop rainwater harvesting.' 
3. Mention any two methods adopted by ancient India for water conservation.

Answer 1

1. Due to the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi-purpose projects, rainwater harvesting system is a viable alternative.
2. Rainwater from sloping roofs of houses is collected by rooftop rainwater harvesting systems and piped into an underground storage tank for later use.
3. Two methods adopted by ancient India for rainwater harvesting are as:
   1.  Diversion channels like guls or kuls were built in the mountainous regions.
   2. Khadins and Johads were also used in arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan.