A region receives abundant rainfall every year, yet its residents frequently face water shortages. Give TWO distinct reasons that could explain this apparent paradox.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:30 · grounding rag
Model Answer
A region with abundant rainfall can still face water shortages due to the following reasons:
- Over-exploitation and large population: A large and growing population demands more water for domestic use and irrigated agriculture. Excessive extraction of groundwater through tube-wells and pumps leads to falling water tables, causing scarcity despite high rainfall.
- Water pollution: Even if water is available in sufficient quantity, it may be rendered unusable due to pollution by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilisers, making it hazardous for human consumption.
(Example: Shillong, Meghalaya, receives among the highest rainfall in the world yet faces acute water shortage.)
Source: Water Resources, Chapter 3, Section — Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management
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Explanation
- Examiners expect two distinct, developed points — not just names. Each reason must have a cause-and-effect link.
- The key insight is that scarcity = quantity problem (over-exploitation/large population) OR quality problem (pollution) — both are valid even with high rainfall.
- The Shillong example from the textbook is a bonus; include it if you remember it, as it directly illustrates the paradox stated in the question.
- Do not write in bullet fragments — brief explanatory sentences score better than one-liners.