Irrigation and Canals Archives

1. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, often discussed in media, is buil

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, often discussed in media, is built across which one of the following rivers ?

Cauvery

Godavari

Krishna

Penneru

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2022

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The correct answer is Godavari.

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is a massive multi-purpose irrigation project located in Telangana, India. It is designed to lift water from the Godavari river and its tributaries and distribute it to various parts of the state for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial use. The project involves a complex network of barrages, reservoirs, tunnels, pumping stations, and canals. It is notable for its scale, particularly the extensive use of lift irrigation technology to raise water to higher elevations.

The Kaleshwaram Project is built at the confluence of the Godavari River and its tributary Pranahita River at Kaleshwaram, Telangana. It is considered one of the world’s largest lift irrigation projects. The project aims to provide irrigation water to lakhs of acres and drinking water to millions of people.

2. Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising d

Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation?

Reduction in weed
Reduction in soil salinity
Reduction in soil erosion

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only

3 only

1 and 3 only

None of the above is an advantage of practising drip irrigation

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2016

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Statement 1 is correct. Drip irrigation applies water directly to the root zone of the plants, minimizing water availability to weeds growing between rows, thus reducing weed growth.
Statement 2 is less definitively a *reduction* in soil salinity as a primary advantage, although it can help manage salinity better than other methods by reducing surface evaporation (which draws salt up) and allowing targeted leaching. However, in some contexts, if improperly managed, salts can accumulate at the edge of the wetting zone. Compared to flood irrigation which can cause waterlogging and widespread salinization, drip irrigation offers better control. But ‘reduction’ as a universal advantage might be debated.
Statement 3 is correct. Drip irrigation applies water slowly and directly to the soil surface or below, preventing surface runoff and water erosion, which are common with furrow or flood irrigation.
Considering the options provided, and that 1 and 3 are clearly and widely accepted advantages, Option C (1 and 3 only) is the most likely intended answer.

Drip irrigation significantly reduces weed growth and soil erosion. Its effect on soil salinity is more about better management and potential mitigation compared to other methods, rather than a guaranteed reduction in all contexts.

Other advantages of drip irrigation include significant water savings, increased yield, reduced fertilizer use (through fertigation), and adaptability to various terrains and soil types.

3. Consider the following statements about irrigation in Punjab : 1. In

Consider the following statements about irrigation in Punjab :

1. Intensity of irrigation is the highest among all Indian States.
2. Area under canal irrigation is the highest among all Indian States.
3. There has been severe land degradation in Punjab owing to agricultural modernization including high intensity of irrigation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

1 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2012

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Statement 1: Punjab has one of the highest, if not the highest, intensities of irrigation among all Indian states due to its dominant agrarian economy and extensive irrigation infrastructure. Statement 2: While Punjab has significant canal irrigation, states like Uttar Pradesh have a larger total area under canal irrigation. Punjab relies heavily on both canals and groundwater (tubewells), with groundwater often irrigating a larger area than canals. Statement 3: High intensity of irrigation, coupled with practices like monoculture and heavy use of chemicals associated with the Green Revolution, has led to severe problems in Punjab, including waterlogging, soil salinity, declining water table, and nutrient imbalance, resulting in significant land degradation.

Punjab’s agriculture is highly modernized and dependent on irrigation, which, while boosting production, has also resulted in environmental challenges like land degradation and water resource depletion.

The excessive withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation has led to a significant drop in the water table in many parts of Punjab, adding another layer to the environmental concerns arising from intensive irrigation.

4. If one plots the tank irrigation in India and superimposes it with map

If one plots the tank irrigation in India and superimposes it with map of well irrigation, one may find that the two are negatively related. Which of the following statements explain the phenomenon?

1. Tank irrigation predates well irrigation.
2. Tank irrigation is in the areas with impervious surface layers.
3. Well irrigation requires sufficient groundwater reserves.
4. Other forms of irrigation are not available.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3

2 and 3 only

3 and 4

1 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2019

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Tank irrigation and well irrigation often show a negative spatial relationship in India. This is primarily due to the differing hydrogeological conditions required for each. Tank irrigation is historically prominent in the peninsular plateau region, characterized by hard crystalline rocks (impervious base layers) and undulating topography. These conditions favor surface storage (tanks) but limit groundwater recharge, making well irrigation difficult due to low water tables and poor aquifer connectivity (Point 2 – interpreted as underlying impervious layers). Conversely, well irrigation is dominant in the alluvial plains of North India and deltaic regions, where porous and permeable soils facilitate groundwater recharge and the presence of large aquifers allows for extensive well use (Point 3 – sufficient groundwater reserves). The areas with abundant groundwater for wells often lack suitable topography or have permeable soils less suited for tank construction and water retention. Thus, the conditions favoring one method are generally unfavourable for the other, leading to a negative spatial correlation.

– Tank irrigation is common in hard rock areas with low groundwater potential.
– Well irrigation requires significant and accessible groundwater reserves, typically found in alluvial or soft rock areas.
– The geological and hydrological conditions favouring one type of irrigation are often opposite to those favouring the other.

Statement 1 is true but does not explain the spatial relationship. Statement 4 is false; other irrigation methods like canals are widely used. The negative relationship is a consequence of adapting the irrigation method to the available water resources (surface vs. groundwater) dictated by geology and topography.