Q1. [3] deep thorough-understanding
Rajasthan's Thar Desert and the highlands of Meghalaya represent two contrasting environments, yet both have developed traditional water harvesting systems that are celebrated examples of local ingenuity. Compare the rooftop rainwater harvesting system (tanka) of Rajasthan with the bamboo drip irrigation system of Meghalaya: (i) What specific local water problem does each system address? (ii) What is the core engineering or ecological principle underlying each system?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:32 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) Water problem addressed:
- Tanka (Rajasthan): Addresses acute drinking water scarcity in the arid Thar Desert, where rainfall is scarce and irregular, and all other sources dry up in summer.
- Bamboo drip irrigation (Meghalaya): Addresses the need to transport stream/spring water efficiently from hilltops to crops on lower slopes, ensuring precise delivery despite hilly terrain.
(ii) Core principle:
- Tanka: Rooftop collection and underground storage — rainwater from sloping roofs flows through pipes into sealed underground tanks, preventing evaporation and preserving purity (palar pani).
- Bamboo drip irrigation: Gravity-fed flow control — bamboo pipes carry 18–20 litres of water over hundreds of metres, progressively reducing flow to 20–80 drops per minute at the plant root.
Source: Water Resources, Chapter 3 — Rainwater Harvesting; Bamboo Drip Irrigation System
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Explanation
- The question has two clear sub-parts (i) and (ii); answer both separately with both systems addressed in each.
- Examiners look for specific textbook details: "palar pani," underground tanka, first-spell discarded; and the "18–20 litres → 20–80 drops" figure for bamboo drip.
- Contrast is the key analytical skill being tested — desert scarcity vs. hilly terrain distribution problem; storage principle vs. gravity/flow-control principle.
- Avoid padding; use parallel structure to show comparison clearly.