GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SELECTED ISSUES & PROBLEMS LESSON 12

ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION

 It is the discharge of material in any physical state which is
dangerous to environment & human health
 It is classified on the basis of medium through which pollutants are
transported & diffused
 Pollutions-
▪ Air Pollution
▪ Water Pollution
▪ Noise Pollution
▪ Land Pollution

WATER POLLUTION

 Indiscriminate use of water has led to water degradation
 Surface water always contain organic & inorganic substances thus it is never pure & unfit for consumption
 Erosion, decay , decomposition of plants & animals are the natural water pollutants
 Humans pollute water by industrial, agriculture, cultural activities
 Industries produce toxics & dispose them into running which destroys the eco-system
 Major water polluting industries- Leather, Pulp & Paper , Chemicals
 Pesticides, chemicals used in agriculture are washed down to water
reservoirs & increase the nitrate content of surface water
 Chemicals also reach the groundwater & pollute it
 Cultural activities like pilgrimage, fairs , tourism also cause water pollution
 Water pollution is a source of water borne diseases like Diarrhoea,
hepatitis etc.
 One fourth of communicable diseases in India are water borne
 NMCG has been started to improve condition of the river

NAMAMI GANGE PROGRAMME (NMCG)

 Launched in 2014
 Objectives :

1. Developing sewerage treatment systems in towns
2. Monitoring industrial effluents
3. Development of river front
4. Afforestation near river bank
5. Cleaning river surface
6. Development of Ganga Grams in Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar
7. Public awareness to avoid pollutants addition

AIR POLLUTION

 It is the addition of contaminants like dust , fumes, gas, to the air
which is harmful to flora & fauna
 Sources – combustion of fossil fuels & mining
 These sources release oxides of Sulphur, carbon monoxide etc.
 Causes respiratory, nervous & circulatory diseases
 Smog caused by atmospheric pollution is harmful for human health
 Cause acid rain

NOISE POLLUTION

 It is the state of unbearable & uncomfortable to humans caused by noise
 Main sources- Factories , Automobiles , Loudspeakers
 Unit of measuring sound level is Decibels (dB)
 Biggest nuisance is produced by traffic
 In sea traffic noise pollution is confined to harbour
 It is location specific
 Oceans are ten times noisier than 40 years ago due to global shipping trade
 Consequences- Annoyance , hypertension , loss of hearing

URBAN WASTE DISPOSAL

 Features of urban areas- overcrowding, congestion , foul air, poor sanitary condition
 Solid waste (Variety of old & used articles) has grown enormously
 Sources of solid waste- Domestic , Industrial
 Consequences of solid waste- cause health hazard, water pollution ,
harbouring of flies & cause discomfort to people
 Untreated waste release toxic gas like methane

RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION

 Caused by:

1. Labour demand
2. Low job opportunities in rural areas
3. Unbalanced pattern of development between urban & rural area  Rural population (2011) – 69%

PROBLEMS OF SLUMS

 Slums are residential areas of least choice , lack basic amenities
 Overcrowded areas with narrow streets & health hazards
 Slum population works in unorganized sectors
 They are undernourished , prone to diseases
 Children do not have school facilities
 Poverty makes them vulnerable to drug abuse, crime etc.
 SBM (part of urban renewal mission) launched to improve life
 Dharavi- Largest slum in Asia

LAND DEGRADATION

 Pressure on agricultural land increases due to limited availability &
deterioration of quality
 Causes of land degradation – Soil erosion, water logging, salinization & alkanisation
 It is the temporary / permanent decline in productive capacity of land
 Natural & human processes induce land degradation

CLASSIFICATION OF WASTELANDS

 Caused by Natural Agents

• Gullied lands
• Desertic lands
• Barren areas
• Steep sloping areas

 Caused by natural & human factors

• Waterlogged & Marshy areas
• Land affected by salinity & alkanity
• Land with/without scrub

 Caused by human factors

• Degraded shifting cultivation area
• Degraded land under plantation crops
• Degraded forests
• Degraded pastures
• Mining & Industrial Wastelands

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (JHABUA)

 ‘ Rajiv Gandhi Mission for Watershed Management’ started in 2002
 Land degradation has been controlled significantly
 This programme has improved soil quality
 About 20% of the total area under Jhabua district has treated by watershed programmes
 People planted fodder grass on pasture land, adopted social
fencing of these lands for at least two years