i) What is sustainable development? Why is it necessary?

ii) What is water harvesting? List its four benefits.

i) Sustainable development: Sustainable development is a development which does not cause overuse of resources and fulfilling the needs of the present, but without cooperating with the ability of future generations to meet their own requirements and at the same time replacing the existing resources.

It is necessary because:

a. It increases economic growth. Conservation of resources rises the economic activities.

b. It enhances the quality of life by increasing the span of life.

c. Due to the development which are causing problems for human beings and our future generation too. Hence, sustainable development is necessary.

d. The concept of sustainable development encourages forms of growth that meet current basic human needs.

ii) Water harvesting: In water harvesting, the aim is to develop primary resources of land and water, to produce secondary resources of plants and animals for use in a manner which will not cause ecological imbalance. Water harvesting is an age-old concept in India.

The four benefits of water harvesting are:

i. Water harvesting increases the production and income of the watershed community.

ii. It moderates droughts and floods and increases the life of the downstream dam and reservoirs.

iii. It does not evaporate, but spreads out to recharge wells and provides moisture for vegetation over a wide area.

iv. The groundwater is also relatively protected from contamination by human and animal waste.