CHAPTER

Geographical Perspective on
12 Selected Issues and Problems

Introduction:
In this chapter, we will discuss the issue of pollution. Pollution is the release of material and energy into polluted products
of human activity. Many industrial wastes, e.g., wastewater, toxic gasses, chemical residues, heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc.
are dumped into running water, lakes, ponds, rivers and other bodies of water and thus destroy the water bio-system. The
main cases are the leather, pulp and paper, textile and chemical industries.

1. Environmental Pollution:

It is divided into species. Therefore, they are classified on the basis of where the waste is transported and distributed.
The categories of pollution are as follows:
1. Water pollution
2. Air pollution
3. Noise pollution
4. Land pollution

1. Water pollution:

Water levels are greatly reduced by a few factors namely the indiscriminate use of water by fast-growing people and the
growing industrialization. No excess water is found clean in rivers, canals, ponds, etc. as all water sources contain a small
number of fixed particles, organic and inanimate. Water is polluted, as the amount of these substances increases. It becomes
unfit for human consumption and its ability to cleanse itself diminishes.
There are two sources of water pollution:
1. Natural Erosion, landslides, rot and decay of plants and animals, etc. are natural resources that cause water pollution.
2. People's industrial, agricultural and cultural activities cause water pollution.
Man-made water pollution is a major problem in modern times. Industrial pollution activities.

Pollution sources in the Ganga and the Yamuna River:

Many industrial wastes, e.g., wastewater, toxic gasses, chemical residues, heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc. are dumped into
running water, lakes, ponds, rivers and other bodies of water and thus destroy the water bio-system. The main cases are the
leather, pulp and paper, textile and chemical industries.
Today the use of various chemicals such as organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides is common in agriculture. These
chemicals pollute surface water such as rivers, lakes, tanks and groundwater by entering the soil. These fertilizers increase the
amount of nitrate in the surface water. Apart from this, cultural activities such as pilgrimage, religious exhibitions, tourism, etc.
also cause water pollution. In India, almost all surface water sources are polluted and unfit for human use.
Consumption of contaminated water can be harmful to human health and can cause various waterborne diseases, e.g. diarrhea,
intestinal worms, hepatitis, etc. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that about one quarter of India's communicable
diseases are found in water.
Air pollution

A large amount of pollutants such as dust, smoke, gas, fog, odors, smoke or air vapor have long been known to cause air pollution
to be harmful to plants and animals and to animals. There is an increase in the release of toxic gasses into the atmosphere due
to the increased use of various fuels for energy in various fields, thus causing air pollution.
The main sources of air pollution are fossil fuels, mines and industries that produce sulfur oxides, and nitrogen, hydrocarbons,
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, and asbestos.

Effects of Air Pollution

The effects of air pollution are as follows:

1. Air pollution causes many diseases related to our respiratory, circulatory and circulatory systems.
2. Air pollution is responsible for creating urban smoke vapor known as urban smoke. It has negative effects on a person's
health.
3. Air pollution is also a cause of acid rain. The first after-summer rainfall in urban areas often indicates a high acidity of
rainwater which is indicative of a lower pH level than subsequent rainfall.

3. Noise pollution:
Noise pollution refers to noise that causes an unbearable and
uncomfortable situation for people. This sound can come from
a variety of sources. It is the latest thing that has become a
major concern only after the invention of new technologies.
Fixed sound level is measured in decibels (dB).
Factories, mechanical engineering and demolition, cars and
airplanes are major sources of noise pollution. Apart from
this, there are also occasional sources of noise pollution such
as sirens, loudspeakers at various festivals and programs and
other community activities. Car noise generated by traffic is a
major source of noise pollution. It causes great frustration for
people. The strength and nature of the noise generated by
traffic depends on a variety of factors such as the type of
vehicle (plane, train, etc.) / road condition and vehicle condition (if there are vehicles).
Overcrowded sea, noise; dirt is restricted to the port due to loading and unloading of boxes. Industrial noise pollution is also
a big problem but your intensity varies due to certain factors such as industry type, type of equipment and tools, etc.
 The potential for noise pollution decreases as the distance from the source of pollution (industrial areas, transport hubs,
airports, etc.) increases. Thus, noise pollution depends on a particular area.

Effects of Noise Pollution:

Noise pollution is a major cause of anxiety, mood swings and other psychological problems and disturbances among people in
many major cities and major cities in India.

2. Urban Waste Disposal

Overcrowding, congestion, increasing population, improper
infrastructure and facilities to support this population, lack of
sanitation, foul air, etc. are some features of urban areas.
Mismanagement of solid wastes and environmental pollution
caused by them has now become a major problem. Solid wastes
are a variety of old and used articles, for e.g., stained small pieces
of metals, broken glass wares, plastic containers, polythene bags,
ashes, floppies, CDs, etc. dumped at different places. These
discarded materials are also known as refuse, garbage and
rubbish, etc. And are disposed of from two sources i.e., household
or domestic establishments and industrial or commercial
establishments. Public lands or private contractor’s sites are used
to dispose of household or domestic wastes. Low lying public
grounds (landfill areas) are used to dispose of industrial solid wastes by public (municipal) facilities. Industries, thermal power
houses and building constructions and demolitions are contributing with more turn out of ashes and debris in solid wastes.
Disposal of industrial wastes has increased because of the concentration of industrial units in and around urban centers. Urban
waste is a bigger problem in small towns and cities than metropolitan cities in the country. About 90% of solid waste is collected
and disposed of successfully in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and other metropolitan cities. About 30-50% solid wastes
in other towns and cities in the country are not collected and disposed of properly. It is a major problem because it accumulates
on streets, in open spaces between houses and in wastelands and can cause various health problems.

Impacts of Improper Management of Solid wastes:

Improper management of solid wastes has following impacts:
1. Solid wastes are a threat to human health and can cause various diseases. It creates foul smell and it harbors flies and rodents
that can cause typhoid, diphtheria, diarrhea, malaria, cholera and other diseases.
2. Solid waste can create inconvenience rapidly if they are not properly handled. Wind and rain water can splash it and cause
discomfort to people.
3. Industrial solid waste can cause water pollution by dumping it into water bodies. Drains carrying untreated sewage also
result in various health problems.
4. Untreated waste releases various poisonous biogases such as methane in air by slow fermentation process. These wastes
are resources as energy can be generated from them! By compositing these wastes, the problem of energy could be solved
as well as its management in urban areas.

3. Rural-Urban Migration
Movement of people from rural areas to urban areas are caused
by various factors such as high demand for labour in urban areas,
low job opportunities in rural areas and disparities in terms of
development in rural and urban areas. Smaller and medium cities
provide low opportunities which force people to bypass these
small cities and directly come to the mega cities for their
livelihood. Mostly daily wage workers like welders, carpenters, etc
move to other cities for work, periodically and provide
remittances to their families for daily consumption, health care,
schooling of children, etc. This has improved their early abject
situation into a better one. Simultaneously, due to temporary and
transferable job situations, these laborers and their families hear
the pain of separation of their near and dear ones. Sometimes
these workers also face difficulty in assimilation to the new culture and environment. Due to these menial jobs at low wages in
the informal sector in urban areas, the spouses are left behind in rural areas to look after children and elderly people. Thus, the
rural-urban migration stream is dominated by the males.

4. Trend of Urbanisation in the World:

Currently, about 54% of the world’s 7
billion (2011) population lives in urban
areas of the world. This proportion of
urban population will increase in
future. It is estimated that between
2025 to 2030, this percentage would
grow 1.44% per year. This high urban
population will pressurize
governments to optimize
infrastructure facilities in urban areas
for giving a standard quality of life. It is
estimated that by 2050, about two-
thirds of the world’s population will
live in urban areas. It would create a
high pressure on existing
infrastructure and sanitation, health,
crime problems and urban poverty.
There are various factors responsible
for growth of urban population:
1. When high birth rate and low mortality rate increase.
2. Net in-migration or movement of people from other areas.
3. Reclassification of urban areas to encompass formerly rural settlements.
In India there is an estimation that about 60% of India's urban population has increased after 1961. About 29% of this
growth has been caused by rural-urban migration.
 5. Problems with slums
1. Dwelling separates two concepts which are urban or urban
and rural. They are also described differently in different
countries.
2. The two are separated by their functions but sometimes
dependent on the other. The two perspectives are further
subdivided into different cultural, economic and technological
categories.
3. According to the 2001 census, about 72% of the population of
rural India (in 2011, the rural population was 68.84%). Most
of these rural areas are still in poor condition and are
undergoing initial activities.
4. According to Mahatma Gandhi, well-republican villages. These serve as additives in the central city center that forms its
hinterland.
5. Urban areas are more developed economically, politically and culturally, etc. than in other areas.
6. Urban areas have farm houses, high-income people and their own spaces, wide roads, street lights, water and sanitation
facilities, grass, well-developed green belts, parks, playgrounds and other facilities, individual security provisions and the
right to privacy.
7. Apart from these attractions the urban areas have slums, jhuggi jhopri ’collections and colonies of slum buildings.
8. These are unsanitary and degraded urban areas. These are settled by migrants who are forced to move from rural areas to
cities in order to be employed and earn a living. But because of rising rent and high costs, they could not afford affordable
housing and could start living in these areas.

6. Features of Slums
The slums have the following features:
1. Slums are not as diverse as residential areas, poor
sanitation, poor air quality and lack of basic resources
such as drinking water, lighting and toilets, etc.
2. Slums are overcrowded and have many patterns on
narrow streets that are often at high risk of fire.
3. Most slum dwellers work for low wages, high-risk and
informal sectors in the urban economy.
4. They deal with various health problems such as
malnutrition, illness and various illnesses. They cannot
afford to send their children to school because of low
income.
5. Citizens are at risk of drug abuse, alcoholism, crime,
vandalism, escape, neglect and social stigma due to poverty.

7. Land Degradation
Limited availability and deterioration of land quality both have a responsibility to put pressure on agricultural land. Soil erosion,
deforestation, salt immersion and immersion of alkalinise lead to land degradation which reduces soil production. In simple
terms, a temporary or permanent decline in the earth's productive capacity is known as land degradation. All the corrupt land
should not be considered a waste. But if the degradation process is not scrutinized, then the depleted land could be transformed
into a wasteland. Natural and man-made processes both degrade the earth.

8. Classification of Wastelands

1. The National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) is an organization responsible for the demarcation of deserts in India. It
distinguishes desert areas using remote sensing techniques on the basis of created processes.
2. Desert Created by Environmentalists Desert / desert land, desert or coastal sand, rocky deserts, hilly terrain, glacier, etc.
Desertification by natural resources. These are considered abandoned areas caused by natural agents.
3. Wildlife and Human Factors Wetlands and wetlands, salt and alkalinity affected areas and sandy soils that are not polluted
by nature and human features are included in this section.
4. Man-Made Desert Transfers of arable land, degraded cultivated land, degraded forests, degraded pastures and desert mines
and industries are some of the most degraded deserts as a result of human action.

Questions For Practice

1. Which town on the coast of Yamuna 6. Jharia Region is located at: 9. Which of the following diseases is
is polluted? (a) Karnataka caused by water pollution?
(a) Lucknow (b) Mathura (b) Jharkhand (a) Conjunctivitis
(c) Kanpur (d) Varanasi (c) Chhattisgarh (b) Respiratory diseases
(c) Diarrhea
2. The wasteland in India includes? (d) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Bronchitis
(a) 7.5% (b) 10.5% 7. What is the origin of the pollution 10. Where is the Dharavi stream?
(c) 15.9% (d) 25.15% on the Ganga coast? (a) Karnataka (b) Gujarat
3. By 2050, how many people will be (a) The leather industry (c) Maharashtra (d) Rajasthan
living in cities? (b) Paper industry 11. Which town on the coast of Yamuna
(a) 1 / 4th (b) 1 / 3rd (c) Gases is polluted?
(c) 2 / 3rd (d) 3 / 4th (d) Waste (a) Lucknow (b) Mathura
4. What is a noise pollution (c) Kanpur (d) Varanasi
8. Which of the following is the cause
measurement unit? of soil pollution? 12. The wasteland in India includes?
(a) Millibar (b) Decibel (a) Human Activity (a) 7.5% (b) 10.5%
(c) Diameter (d) Centimeter (c) 15.9% (d) 25.15%
(b) Air Activity
5. Degradation is not the result of? (c) Land Activity 13. By 2050, how many people will be
(a) Soil erosion (b) Salt (d) All of the above living in cities?
(c) Alkalinity (d) Forests (a) 1 / 4th (b) 1 / 3rd
(c) 2 / 3rd (d) 3 / 4th
14. What is an air pollution (d) Bronchitis 26. Push and pull factors are
measurement unit? 20. Where is the Dharavi stream? responsible for?
(a) Millibar (b) Air Quality (a) Karnataka (b) Gujarat (a) Migration
Index (c) Maharashtra (d) Rajasthan (b) land degradation
(c) Diameter (d) Centimeter (c) slums
21. In which town, do vehicles emit the
15. What is result of land degradation? most carbon monoxide? (d) Air pollution
(a) Biodiversity Loss (b)Climate (a) Delhi (b) Mathura 27. What is the effect of noise pollution?
Change (c) Kohima (d) Jhansi (a) Irritation
(c) Environment Hazards (d)All (b) Stress
22. Decibel is a unit of which pollution?
16. Jhabua Region is located at? (c) Increase Blood Pressure
(a) Soil (b) Noise
(a) Karnataka (b) Madhya (d) All of the above
(c) Water (d) Air
Pradesh
(c) Chhattisgarh (d) Jharkhand 23. Which of the following is not the 28. Which one of the following
source of noise pollution-? organization responsible for
17. What is the origin of the pollution on demarcation of desert in India?
the Ganga coast? (a) Use of pesticides
(b) aircrafts (a) National Desert Agency
(a) The leather industry (b) National Remote Sensing
(b) Paper industry (c) automobiles
Agency
(c) Gases (d) factories
(c) Air Control Agency
(d) Waste 24. Which town along the banks of (d) None
18. Which of the following is the cause Yamuna is polluted?
of acid rain? (a) Lucknow (b) Mathura 29. Which of the following is the cause
(a) Water pollution (c) Kanpur (d) Varanasi of acid rain?
(b) Noise pollution (a) water pollution
25. River Ganga flows through which of (b) land pollution
(c) Land pollution
(d) Air pollution. the following states? (c) Noise pollution
(a) Uttar Pradesh (d) Air pollution
19. Which of the following diseases is (b) Delhi
caused by water pollution? (c) Odisha 30. Which is the natural source of air
(a) Conjunctivitis pollution?
(d) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Respiratory diseases (a) Man (b) Water
(c) Diarrhea (c) Agriculture (d) Volcanoes

Solutions
1. (b) 4. (b) 7. (a) 10. (c) 13. (c) 16. (b) 19. (b) 22. (b) 25. (a) 28. (b)
2. (d) 5. (d) 8. (a) 11. (b) 14. (b) 17. (a) 20. (c) 23. (a) 26. (a) 29. (d)
3. (c) 6. (b) 9. (b) 12. (d) 15. (d) 18. (a) 21. (a) 24. (b) 27. (d) 30. (d)