Question
Study the given diagram and answer the questions that follow:
(18.1) Which sectors accounts for most of the groundwater utilisation? Give one reason.
(18.2) Why is the share of water utilisation in domestic sector lower in groundwater as compared to surface water?
Solution
(18.1) Agriculture sectors accounts for most of the groundwater utilisation.
In agriculture, water is mainly used for irrigation. Irrigation is needed because of spatio-temporal variability in rainfall in the country. The large tracts of the country are deficient in rainfall and are drought prone.
(18.2) However, due to topographical, hydrological and other constraints, only about 690 cubic km (32 per cent) of the available surface water can be utilised.
