Read the follwing passage and answer the following questions

The most obvious way to preserve as much rain water as possible is to impound it where it falls. This is what our ancestors tried to do and succeeded, as is evidenced by the numerous bunds, tanks and ducts that are characteristic features of the south Indian landscape. Instead of promoting such efforts and keeping the structures in good condition we have allowed them to fall into disuse. These structures once full with water have just disappeared, becoming victims of rapacious estate builders and cities have been allowed to expand without limit creating pockets of enormous water consumption.

Extensive deforestation of hill slopes has allowed rain water to run-off and disappear in no time. Major dams are no doubt constructed at enormous expense but these structures can at best store only one year’s requirement and no more and benefit only a small section of the population living in river valleys. The water requirement of the large sections of the population living in regions away from major rivers has never been taken into consideration – they remain totally neglected and literally left high and dry with no agency caring to allay their distress. Rainwater harvesting is not something new – it has been practiced from times immemorial. Some NGOs have made a beginning in reviving this technique and several success stories are reported especially in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which should convince government agencies of the efficacy of this technique in solving water problems of the country as a whole.