Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The arrival of the Indira Gandhi Canal brought perennial water supply to western Rajasthan, causing rooftop rainwater harvesting (and the traditional tanka system) to decline sharply in districts like Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer.

This illustrates a key tension: canal water offered immediate, effortless convenience, so people abandoned a reliable, self-sufficient, cost-free system. However, canal supply can be disrupted, while tankas store palar pani (considered the purest water) until the next rainfall — a dependable backup during dry summers. Sacrificing this long-term water security for short-term ease leaves communities vulnerable if canal supply fails.

Source: Water Resources, Chapter 3

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• The textbook explicitly states: "the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting is on the decline as plenty of water is available due to the perennial Indira Gandhi Canal."
• For 3 marks, examiners expect: (1) identification of the development (Indira Gandhi Canal) — 1 mark; (2) explanation of short-term convenience — 1 mark; (3) analysis of long-term water security risk — 1 mark.
• Use textbook terms like tanka, palar pani, and name specific districts to show precise knowledge.