XII / GEOGRAPHY / B-II / 9-GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SELECTED ISSUES & PROBLEMS

CHAPTER - 9

GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SELECTED ISSUES AND

PROBLEMS

GIST OF THE CHAPTER

 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION-
• It is the unwanted matter & energy in the environment which harms to the man .
• It results from the release of substances & energy from waste products of human act.
• There are four types of environment pollution
1. Air pollution 3. Water pollution
2 Land pollution 4. Noise pollution

 TYPES OF POLLUTION

Pollution Causes Pollutants Effects Solution

Water • Sewage disposal, • Odour, • Water born • Controlled use of
Pollution • Urban run-off • Dissolved solids diseases due to fertilizers & pesti.
• Industrial waste • fertilizers, pesti. polluted water. • Treating the industrial
• Nuclear waste. • Radioactive subs. • Ex- diarrhoea, waste water before
intestinal worms, releasing to streams
hepatitis etc.
Air • combustion of • Oxides of • diseases related to • Plantation, use of
Pollution fossil fuels sulphur & respiratory , filters in industries
• Industrial nitrogen nervous and • Use of non-
processes • Carbon monoxide circulatory system conventional energy
• Solid waste • Ammonia like asthma, lung resources
disposal • Lead cancer, Hyper • Use of public
• Sewage disposal tension, stroke etc. transport
Noise • More noise by • Aircrafts, • Hearing Problem • Limiting excessive
Pollution loudspeakers Loudspeakers, • Difficulty in noise in public places
• More Constructions, sleeping • minimise automobiles
Automobiles Traffic (land & • Reduced cognitive • locate industries away
& industries Sea) , Industries functioning from residential areas
Land • Use of chemical • Human & animal • Land derioration • Mass awareness
Pollution fertilizers and excreta • Toxic elements • Reduce the use of
pesticides. • Virus & bacteria absorbed in agro- pesticides & chemical
• Disposal of
• Garbage products fertilisers
untreated
• Radio-active • Animals are forced • Adopt organic farming
industrial waste
• Improper human substances to shift habitats • Plant more trees
activities • Fertilisers & • Pollute water also
pesticides

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 SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN THE GANGA AND YAMUNA

River and Polluted Stretches Nature of Pollution Pollutants

State
Ganga 1. Downstream of Kanpur 1. Industrial pollution in Kanpur Kanpur, Allahabad,
(UP, BIH, 2. Downstream of Varanasi 2. Domestic waste from urban Varanasi, Patna ,
WB) 3. Farrakka barrage centres Kolkata release
3. Dumping of Carcasses in domestic waste into
river river
Yamuna 1. Delhi to 1.Extraction of water by Delhi dumping its
(Delhi, UP) confluence with Haryana & UP domestic waste
Chambal 2. Agri. runoff add pollutants
2. Mathura and Agra 3.Domestic & industrial waste

 NAMAMI GANGE PROGRAMME

The central govt. has launched the ‘Namami Gange Programme’ with the following
objectives-
• Developing sewage treatment systems in towns
• Monitoring of Industrial waste
• Development of river front
• Afforestation along the bank of river
• Cleaning of the river surface
• Development of ‘Ganga Grams’
• Creating public awareness.

 URBAN WASTE DISPOSAL

• A serious problem- Overcrowding, congestion, inadequate facilities, poor sanitary

conditions, significant quantity of solid waste, pieces of metals, polythene bags,
broken glass ware, plastic containers, ashes, garbage and electronic wastes make solid
waste in urban areas.

• Sources of Urban Waste

o House hold establishments: thrown in public lands, private contractors' sites.
o Industrial establishments: thrown in low lying public grounds (landfill areas)

• Causes of the problem of Urban waste disposal in India-

o Population Explosion
o Apathy of public administration
o Increasing consumerism
o People not serious towards cleanliness

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o Unscientific methods of waste disposal

o Open Urban waste becomes carrier of diseases.
o Dumping of garbage choke and pollute the rivers.

• Effects of Solid Waste

o Health hazard due to obnoxious smell, flies and rodents
o Disease like typhoid, diphtheria diarrhea, malaria, cholera
o Untreated sewage leads to serious health problems downstream.
o Industrial waste dumping in rivers cause water pollution. Ex. Ganga ,Yamuna
o Untreated & uncollected waste ferment slowly and release toxic gases to the
atmosphere.

 CASE STUDY – Daurala

• Introduction
o Daurala is a village with 12 thousand residents near Meerut.
o The ground water of the village was contaminated with nearby industrial waste.
o Meerut based NGO developed a model for ecological restoration
o NGO collected the data about the health conditions of the residents

• Steps Taken
o Overhead tank capacity was increased
o Ponds were cleaned
o Silt was removed
o Rain water harvesting structures were made
o 1000 trees have been planted

 RURAL –URBAN MIGRATION

• Reasons
o Demand for labour in urban areas
o Low job opportunities in rural areas
o Un-development of rural areas
o People migrate to bigger cities

 PROBLEMS OF SLUMS

The major problems of slums in India are-

• Small houses & narrow streets
• Poor hygienic conditions
• Poor ventilation
• Lack of basic amenities
• Areas overcrowded

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• Problem of Malnutrition and Undernutrition

• Problem of drug abuse and crime
• High risk and low paid jobs
• Social exclusion
• Dharavi (Mumbai), Asia's largest slum, is a good example of Slums.

 SWACHH BHARAT MISSION

• It was the central govt. country-wide campaign.
• It was launched by Hon'ble PM Mr. Narendra Modi in 2014
• The main objectives of this mission was to improve the life in urban slums.

 LAND DEGRADATION
• Meaning of Land Degradation- It is a temporary or permanent decline in productive
capacity of the land.

• Causes
o Pressure on agriculture
o Increase in population density
o Faulty methods of agriculture
o Excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides
o Indiscriminate cutting of trees
o Heavy rains
o Floods

• Measures for reduction of land degradation

o Check soil erosion
o Check water logging in the fields
o Check shifting cultivation
o Afforestation
o More use of technology n science in agriculture
o More land reforms
o To promote Organic fertilizer
o To promote rain water harvesting
o Waste disposal on scientific basis
o Public awareness prog.

• Classification of Waste Land by NRSC using remote sensing Techniques

o Caused by Natural Agents -

Gullies, ravines, deserts , barren rocky areas, steep sloping land, glacial areas

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o Caused by Natural as well as Human Factors -

Waterlogged & marshy areas, land affected by salinity and alkalinity, land with or
without scrub

o Caused by Human Actions -

Degraded shifting cultivated areas, degraded land under plantation crops,
degraded forests, degraded pastures, mining and industrial waste lands.

 CASE STUDY - Jhabua

• Introduction
o Jhabua district is located in western part of MP.
o It is one of the five most backward districts of the country
o It is largely inhabitated by Bhils tribal group.
o People suffer due to poverty because of high rate of forest and land degradation.

• Steps taken
o Start watershed development programme
o Link between water, land &vegetation
o Improve livelihood of people by natural resource management
o Community participation in managing watershed prog.
o Revitalized common property resources(CPR)
o Planting one tree by each family on common property.
o Planted fodder grass on the pasture land
o Social fencing of such pasture lands for two years
o Stop open grazing on pasture lands instead feeding the cattle.

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Which one of the following river is highly polluted?

(a) Brahmaputra (b) Satluj
(c) Yamuna (d) Godavari
Ans- (c)

2. Which one of the following deseases is caused by water pollution?

(a) Conjunctivitis (b) Diarrhorea
c) Respiratory infections (d) Bronchitis
Ans-(b)

3. Which one of the following is the cause of acid rain?

(a) Water pollution (b) Land pollution
(c) Noise pollution (d) Air pollution

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Ans-(d)

4. Push and pull factors are responsible for–

(a) Migration (b) Land degradation
(c) Slums (d) Air pollution
Ans-(a)

5. Which of the following is the main source of human created water pollution?
a. Industries b. Domestic waste
c. Agriculture d. Cultural activities
Ans. (a)

6. Consider the following and match the list I with list II and choose the correctanswer with the
help of given options.
LIST I LIST II
(TYPES OF (POLLUTANTS)
POLLUTION)
Air pollution - Nuclear power plant
Water pollution - Advertisement media
Land pollution - Combustion of coal, petroleum and diesel
Noise pollution - Disposal of untreated industrial waste

Codes:

I II III IV

a. 3 1 4 2

b. 3 4 1 2

c. 3 1 2 4

d. 4 1 2 3
Ans. (c)

7. Which of the following is the most water polluting industries?

a. Food processing industry b. Pulp and Paper industry
c. Electro plating industry d. Iron and steel industry
Ans.(b)

8. Which of the following pairs is not matched correctly ?

TYPES OF POLLUTION POLLUTANTS
a. Air Pollution - Hydrocarbons
b. Water Pollution - Oil and Grease
c. Land Pollution - Radio active substances
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d. Noise Pollution - Aldehydes asbestos

Ans.(d)

9. Which of the following is not a water borne disease?

a. Diarrehoea b. Vira lfever
c. Intestinal worms d. Hepatitis
Ans.(b)

10.Which of the following is the main source of air pollution?

a. Combustion of fossil fuels b. Industrial wastes
c. Chemical fertilisers d. Sounds of DJ
Ans. (a)

11.Which of the following is not the cause of noise pollution?

a. Mechanised construction b. Combustion of petroleum
c. Automobiles and aircraft d. Loudspeakers
Ans.(b)

12. Which of the following air pollution borne factor proves very harmful to human health?
a. Acid rain b. Smog
c . Concentration of ammonia d. burning of coal
Ans.(b)

13. Which of the following is not an example of solid wastes?

a. Sewage disposal b. Polythene bags
c. Plastic containers d. broken glassware
Ans. (a)

14. Which of the following program has been launched by Union Government for the cleaning of
river Ganga?
a. Ganga Action Plan b. Namami Gange
c. Ganga Rejuvenation Project d. Ganga Cleaning Mission
Ans.(b)

15. Which of the following factors is not responsible for the flow of population from the rural
areas to urban areas?
a. Availability of adequate land in rural areas
b. High demand of labour in urban areas
c. Low job opportunities in rural areas
d. Unbalanced pattern of development between urban and rural areas
Ans.(a)

16. Only one main road traverses the Dharavi slum, which is miscalled as -
a. Seventy foot road b. Eighty foot road
c. Ninety foot road d. Hundred foot road
Ans.(c)

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17. Dharavi is the largest slum of-

a. Asia b. Africa
c. Malaysia d. India
Ans.(a)

18. Which of the following factors is not responsible for land degradation?
a. Soil erosion b. Salinity
c. Alkalinity d. Afforestation
Ans.(d)

19. Which of the following wasteland is belongs to human generated activities?

a. Barren rocky areas b. Glacial areas
c. Degraded shifting cultivation areas d. Desertic coastal sands
Ans.(c)

20. Which of the following tribal; population belongs to Jhabua district?

a. Gond b.Bheel
c. Santhal d.Gaddi
Ans.(b)

21. The case study of ‘Daurala’ in Uttar Pradesh is associated with –

a. Poverty elevation b. Restore the ecology
c. Acute unemployment d. Air pollution
Ans. (b)

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1.Classify environmental pollution into four types .

Ans- 1) Water pollution 2) Air pollution 3) Noise pollution 4) Land pollution

Q2.What are the sources of water pollution?

Ans- Sewage disposal, urban run-off, industrial waste & nuclear waste.

Q3.What are the sources of noise pollution?

Ans- Aircrafts, Loudspeakers, Constructions, Traffic (land & Sea) , Industries.

Q4.What are the sources of land pollution?

Ans- 1) Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides 2) Disposal of untreated industrial waste
3) Improper human activities.

Q5.What are the effects of water pollution?

Ans- Water pollution leads to several water born diseases ,which caused due to contaminated
water . Ex- diarrhea , intestinal worms, hepatitis etc.

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Q6. What are the effects of air pollution?

Ans- Air pollution leads to diseases related to respiratory , nervous and circulatory system like
asthma, lung cancer, Hyper tension, stroke etc.

Q7.Mention the root cause of ‘acid rain’?

Ans- Acid rain is caused by emission of Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen oxide which react with
water , oxygen in the atmosphere to form more acids .

Q8. What is ‘smog’ ?

Ans- As a result of air pollution, when the smoke is mixed with fog over cities to form smog.

Q9.Which city is the main polluter of river Yamuna?

Ans- New Delhi

Q10.Which place near Meerut set an example of ecological restoration ?

Ans- Daurala

Q11.What is the % of the rural population in India as per census 2011.

Ans- 69 %

Q12. Jhabhua district in Madhya Pradesh is largely inhabitated by which tribal group?
Ans- Bhils

Q.13 What is the difference between pollution and pollutants ?

Ans. A) Pollution is the effect of undesirable changes in our surroundings that have harmful effects
on plants, animals and human beings.
B) Pollutants include solid, liquid or gaseous substances produce due to human activity,
which have a detrimental effect on our environment.

Q.14 Describe the major source of air pollution

Ans. The major source of air pollution
a) Combustion of fossil fuels
b) Industrial processes
c) Solid waste disposal
d) Sewage disposal

Q. 15 What are the effects of air pollution in India .

Ans. The air pollution in India leads to diseases related to respiratory , nervous and circulatory
system like asthma, lung cancer, Hyper tension, stroke low birth-weight, tuberculosis,
ischemic heart disease, cataracts etc.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

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Q1.Name the prog. launched by the Govt. of India to clean river Ganga . Also mention its
objectives ?
Ans. The central govt. has launched the ‘Namami Gange Programme’ with the following
objectives-
1) Developing sewage treatement systems in towns
2) Monitoring of Industrial waste
3) Development of river front
4) Afforestation along the bank of river
5) Cleaning of the river surface
6) Development of ‘Ganga Grams’
7) Creating public awareness.

Q2. Why is the Urban waste disposal a serious problem in India? Explain any five reasons .
Ans- The reasons for being the Urban waste disposal a serious problem in India-
1) Population Explosion
2) Apathy of public administration
3) Increasing consumerism
4) People not serious towards cleanliness
5) Unscientific methods of waste disposal
6) Open Urban waste becomes carrier of diseases .
7) Dumping of garbage choke and pollute the rivers .

Q3.Describe the problems of slums in India.

Ans- The problems of slums in India are-
1) Small houses & narrow streets
2) Poor hygienic conditions
3) Poor ventilation
4) Lack of basic amenities
5) Areas overcrowded
6) Problem of Malnutrition and Undernutrition
7) Problem of drug abuse and crime
8) High risk and low paid jobs
9) Social exclusion

Q4.What is land degradation? Suggest measures for reduction of land degradation.

Ans- LAND DEGRADATION- It is a temporary or permanent decline in productive capacity of
the land.
* Measures for reduction of land degradation-.
1) Check soil erosion
2) Check water logging in the fields
3) Check shifting cultivation
4) Afforestation
5) More use of technology n science in agriculture
6) More land reforms
7) To promote Organic fertilizer
8) To promote rain water harvesting

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9) Waste disposal on scientific basis

10) Public awareness prog.

Q.5 Describe the nature (Sources) of water pollution in India.

Ans. There are various sources of Water pollution in India.
a) Natural Sources- landslides, erosion, decay of plants, dead or infected carcasses .
b) Human Sources-
i) Industries - toxic chemicals, poisonous gases
ii) Urbanisation - sewage, domestic garbage.
iii) Agricultural – Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides
iv) Cultural– flowers, deity statues drowning, religious fairs, cremations at river banks.

SOURCE /GRAPH BASED QUESTION

1- Study the given case study carefully & answer the following questions-
“…. Buses merely skirt the periphery. Autorickshaws cannot go there, Dharavi is part of central
Bombay where three wheelers are banned. Only one main road traverses the slum, the miscalled
‘ninety-foot road’, which has been reduced to less than half of that for most of its length. Some of
the side alleys and lanes are so narrow that not even a bicycle can pass. The whole neighbourhood
consists of temporary buildings, two or three storeyed high with rusty iron stairways to the upper
part, where a single room is rented by a whole family, sometimes accommodating twelve or more
people; it is a kind of tropical version of the industrial dwelling of Victorian London’s East End.
But Dharavi is a keeper of more sombre secrets than the revulsion it inspires in the rich; a revulsion,
moreover, that is, in direct proportion to the role it serves in the creation of the wealth of Bombay.
In this place of shadowless, treeless sunlight, uncollected garbage, stagnant pools of foul water,
where the only non-human creatures are the shining black crows and long grey rats, some of the
most beautiful, valuable and useful articles in India are made. From Dharavi come delicate
ceramics and pottery, exquisite embroidery and zari work, sophisticated leather goods, high-
fashion garments, finely-wrought metalwork, delicate jewellery settings, wood carvings and
furniture that would find its way into the richest houses, both in India and abroad… Dharavi was
an arm of the sea, that was filled by waste, largely produced by the people who have come to live
there: Scheduled Castes and poor Muslims. It comprises rambling buildings of corrugated metal,
20 metres high in places, used for the treatment of hides and tanning. There are pleasant parts, but
rotting garbage is everywhere…

Answer the following questions-

a. ‘Dharavi’ is situated at which place?

i. Chennai
ii. Delhi
iii. Mumbai
iv. Kolkata
Ans. (iii) Mumbai

b. What is the name of the only road traverses the slum ?

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i. Ninety metre road

ii. Ninety yard road
iii. Ninety mile road
iv. Ninety foot road
Ans. (iv) Ninety foot road

c. Which kind of work is not done in Dharavi slum ?

i. Ceramics
ii. Pottery
iii. glass items
iv. metal items
Ans.(iii) glass items

d. Dharavi is largely inhabitated by –

i. Scheduled Caste and Muslims
ii. Scheduled Tribe and Muslims
iii. Other Backward Caste and Muslims
iv. Schduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
Ans. (i) Scheduled Caste and Muslims

2- Study the given case study carefully & answer the following questions-
Based on the universal law “Polluter pays”, effort to restore the ecology and safeguard the
human health with people’s participation has taken place in Daurala near Meerut. These
efforts are now bearing fruits after a span of three years when Meerut based NGO had
developed a model for ecological restoration. The meeting of the Daurala Industries
officials, NGOs, Government officials and other stakeholders at Meerut has brought out
results. The powerful logics, authentic studies and the pressure of people have brought a
new lease of life to the twelve thousand residents of this village. It was in the year 2003
that the pitiable condition of Dauralaites drew the attention of the civil society. The
groundwater of this village was contaminated with heavy metals. The reason was that the
untreated wastewater of Daurala industries was leaching to the groundwater table. The
NGO conducted a door to door survey of the health status of the residents and came out
with a report. The organisation, the village community and people’s representatives sat
together to find out sustainable solutions to the health problem. The industrialists showed
a keen interest towards checking the deteriorating ecology. The overhead water tank’s
capacity in the village was enhanced and a 900m extra pipeline was laid to supply potable
water to the community. The silted pond of the village was cleaned and recharged by
desilting it. Large quantity of silt was removed paving way to large quantity of water so
that it recharged the aquifers. Rainwater harvesting structures have been constructed at
different places which has helped in diluting the contaminants of the groundwater after the
monsoons. 1000 trees have also been planted which have improved the environment.

Answer the following questions-

a. In which state “Daurala” is located?

i.haryana

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ii.UP
iii.Delhi
iv.Gujarat
Ans. (ii) UP

b. What type of pollution is faced by the people of “Daurala”?

i.Noise pollution
ii. Land pollution
iii Water pollution
iv. Air pollution
Ans. (iii) Water Pollution

c. Which process led to contamination of ground water?

i.Leaching
ii.Alkalization
iii. over irrigation
iv. None of these
Ans. (i) Leaching

3- Study the given case study carefully & answer the following questions-
Ramesh has been working in contract as a welder on construction site in Talcher
(coalregion of Odisha)for the last two years. He moved with the contractor to various places
like Surat, Mumbai, Gandhi Nagar, Bharuch, Jamnagar and so on. He remits Rs. 20,000
per year to his father in his native village. The remittances have been mainly used for daily
consumption, healthcare, schooling of children, etc. Part of the money is also used in
agriculture, purchasing of land and building of houses, etc. The standard of living of
Ramesh’s family improved significantly. Fifteen years ago, the situation was not the same.
The family was passing through very tough times. Three of his brothers and their families
had to survive on three acres of land. The family was highly in debt. Ramesh had to
discontinue his studies after ninth standard. He was further hard pressed when he got
married. Simultaneously, he was also impressed by some successful out-migrants of his
village who had been working in Ludhiana and supporting their families in village by
sending money and some consumer goods. Thus, due to abject poverty in the family and
perceived job promises at Ludhiana, he made a move to Punjab with his friend. He worked
there in a woolen factory for six months at the rate of only Rs. 20 per day in 1988.
Apart from the crisis of managing his personal expenditure from this meagre income, he
was also facing difficulty in assimilation to the new culture and environment. Then he
decided to change his place of work from Ludhiana to Surat under the guidance of his
friend. He learnt the skills of welding in Surat and after that he has been moving to different
places with the same contractor. Though the economic condition of Ramesh‘s family at
village improved, he is bearing the pain of separation of his near and dear ones. He cannot
shift them with him, as the job is temporary and transferable.

Answer the following questions :

A. What is the main occupation of Ramesh?

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(i) Carpenter
(ii) Barber
(iii) Welder
(iv)Engineer
Ans. (iii) Welder

B. Remittances are used for his family for which purpose?

(i) For Daily consumption
(ii)For healthcare
(iii)For education
(iv)all of these
Ans. (iv)all of these

C. Which is the main reason for male migration in India?

(i)Education
(ii)Business
(iii) Work and Employment
(iv)Marriage
Ans. (iii) Work and Employment

D. Which stream of migration is dominated by male migrants in India?

(i)Intra state
(ii) Inter state
(iii)International
(iv)None of these
Ans. (ii) Inter state

MAP WORK

Q1.- Show the following on the outline political map of the India-
1. The Asia’s largest slum. (Dharavi, Mumbai)

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ISHWAR DUTT SONI

PGT- GEOGRAPHY
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN

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