In which among the following terrains, the bore wells and canals can be dug easily?

The Northern Plains of India are characterized by soft alluvium, which consists of unconsolidated formations like sand, silt, and clay. This geological structure makes the terrain highly suitable for digging bore wells and canals easily compared to the hard rock terrains of Peninsular India [2]. The Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains possess enormous groundwater reserves and high recharge rates, supporting extensive tubewell development [1]. In contrast, the Peninsular region consists of consolidated formations like gneiss, granites, and basalts, where groundwater availability depends on secondary porosity from weathering or fracturing, making excavation difficult and expensive [2]. While the Northern Plains offer flat surfaces and fertile soils conducive to large-scale canal networks, the rugged and rocky nature of the Peninsular and North-East hilly terrains limits such infrastructure development [4].

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Ground Water Aquifer System of India > p. 33
2. [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > 29 1. Well Irrigation > p. 359
3. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Area and Sources of Irrigation (area in thousand hectares) > p. 36
4. [4] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: Population > Activity ActivityActivity > p. 51