Watershed management benefits – UGC NET Question

Watershed management treats the entire drainage area as a unit and uses measures like contour bunds, check dams and afforestation to slow runoff. This increases infiltration, improves groundwater recharge and reduces soil erosion, helping to stabilise water availability and protect land productivity.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because good watershed practices aim to decrease surface runoff and erosion, not increase them; high runoff tends to wash away fertile topsoil.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it highlights the twin environmental benefits of better groundwater recharge and reduced soil loss, which are core objectives of watershed programmes.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since urban road construction is not the main focus of watershed management and can actually increase impervious surfaces and runoff if poorly planned.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because replacing vegetation with concrete would undermine infiltration, increase runoff and worsen land degradation—the opposite of watershed goals.