Q.Highlight any two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India. India's environmental problems pose a dichotomy — they are poverty induced and, at the same time, due to affluence in living standards — is this true?
You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Development in India has caused serious land degradation and air and water pollution. India's environmental problems are genuinely twofold — some are caused by poverty and dependence on natural resources, others by affluent, high-consumption lifestyles — so the dichotomy is real.
Two serious adverse environmental consequences of development
-
1. Land degradation. The push for development has led to deforestation, over-grazing, encroachment into forests and unsustainable agricultural and irrigation practices. These have degraded land, caused soil erosion and raised soil salinity, lowering its productivity.
-
2. Air and water pollution. Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and rising consumption have polluted the air with suspended particulate matter and vehicular emissions, and contaminated rivers and ground water with industrial effluents and untreated sewage.
Is the dichotomy true?
Yes, India's environmental problems present a genuine dichotomy — they are at once poverty-induced and affluence-induced:
- Poverty-induced. A large, poor population depends heavily on the environment for survival — on fuel-wood, fodder and forest produce, and on marginal lands for cultivation and grazing. This pressure leads to deforestation, over-grazing and land degradation. …
Unlock everything free for 14 days
- Full step-by-step solutions
- Concept-first explanations
- Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.