Tank irrigation is practised mainly in Peninsular India because 1. undulating relief and hard rocks make it difficult to dig canals and wells 2. rivers are rain-fed 3. of compact nature of population and agricultural fields Select the correct answer using the code given below : Code :

The correct answer is Option 1 (1 and 2 only). The prevalence of tank irrigation in Peninsular India is primarily due to its unique geological and hydrological characteristics.

• Statement 1 is correct: The Peninsular plateau is characterized by undulating relief and hard crystalline rocks. This makes the excavation of canals and the digging of wells technically difficult and economically unviable. Natural depressions in this rocky terrain serve as ideal sites for constructing tanks.
• Statement 2 is correct: Unlike Himalayan rivers, Peninsular rivers are seasonal and rain-fed. They often run dry during the summer. Tanks act as essential storage structures to harvest rainwater during the monsoons for use during dry spells.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Agricultural fields in the Peninsula are often scattered and fragmented, rather than compact. A compact population is not a geographical requirement for tank irrigation; rather, the scattered nature of settlements often necessitates localized small-scale tank systems.