Geographical Perspective On Selected Issues And Problems

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Pollution refers to the situation when either certain undesirables are added to the environment (that is, into the air, water or soil, etc) or when certain desirables are removed. Pollutants, on the other hand, denotes the undesirable elements that are added to the environment.

Conjunctivitis is caused due to a viral or bacterial infection, which develops mainly through allergic reaction to irritants in air. Hence, it is caused mainly by air pollution.

Respiratory infections are caused by pollutants in the air.

Bronchitis is a viral lung disorder that has strong relation to pollutants in the air.

Pollutants in the air mix with water molecules in the air to formic acidic components. This acidic mixture comprises the acidic rain. For example,

Migration is caused by two reasons. Either the pull factors i.e., the things that attract one to settle in the destination region, and push factors i.e., the drawbacks that pushes one from their place of settlement.

The major source for air pollution are combustion of fossil fuels, mining and industries. These processes result in addition of contaminants in substantial proportion and duration that may be harmful to flora and fauna and to property.

Poor urban waste disposal mechanism results in unchecked solid waste pile-up. This can cause serious health problems through creation of obnoxious smell, and harbouring of flies and rodents, which act as carriers of diseases like typhoid, diphtheria, diarrhoea, malaria and others.

Air pollution causes serious disease related to respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems. It can result in hair damage, eye irritation, respiratory diseases, nervous system damage, skin damage, cardiovascular damage, and many serious health hazards.

Water quality, in India, has considerably declines thanks to the indiscriminate use by the increasing population and unending industrial expansion. The amount of pollutants has long surpassed the self-purifying capacity of the waters. In India, water pollutants from human activities are the major cause of water pollution, industrial activities being the most significant contributor.

Industries produce several undesirable by-products which are harmful for the environment. Yet, most of the industrial wastes are disposed off in running water or lakes. Consequently, poisonous elements reach the reservoirs, rivers and other water bodies, which destroy the bio-system of these waters. Second, to industries, comes agriculture sector.

Various chemicals used in modern agriculture, including inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides are also pollution generating components. These are washed down to rivers, lakes and tanks, which then infiltrate the soil to reach the ground water. These pollutants have the potential to alter the soil nutrient content and render it infertile. Cultural activities, such as pilgrimage, religious fairs, tourism, etc. also causes water pollution.

Thus, water pollution continues to be a structural problem in India. This means that water pollution cannot be addressed without considering the restructuring of waste disposal policy of industries, in addition to efficient management of the use of chemicals in agriculture, and all the other sources of water pollution. Hence, the solution lies in an integrated approach and not in targeted cleaning drives.

Slums form at the other extreme of the socio-economic ladder of urban centres. These shanty structures are inhabited by those individuals who were forced to migrate from the rural areas to these urban centres in search of livelihood but could not afford proper housing due to high rent and high costs of land.

Thus, slums are residential areas of the last choice, dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, poor ventilation, lack of basic amenities, like drinking water, light and toilet facilities, etc. Open defecation, unregulated drainage system and overcrowded narrow street patter are common to such places.

Most of the slum population works in low-paid, high risk-prone, unorganised sectors of the urban economy. Consequently, they are the undernourished, prone to different types of diseases and illness and cannot afford to give proper education to their children. In addition, the poverty makes them vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy and ultimately social exclusion.

In the larger scheme of things, slums develop because of the uneven distribution of opportunities over space. They would not have existed, in the first place, if the need to migrate never arose. Thus, the government must spend resources to bring a minimum economic parity between cities and rural towns.

Soil erosion, waterlogging, salinisation and alkalinisation of land lead to land degradation. Land degradation is understood as either a temporary or a permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land, and unchecked process of degradation may lead to the conversion to wasteland.

Certain measures can be taken to reduce land degradation.

1. Strip Farming: a practice in which crops are sown in an alternative strip pattern to prevent water movement.

2. Crop Rotation: a practice whereby different kinds of crops are cultivated in the same land in alternative seasons, this helps in the replenishment of soil fertility.

3. Ridge and furrow formation: forming ridges and furrow along agriculture land can help in lessening surface run-off. Soil erosion is mainly caused by surface run-off.

4. Contour Farming: a practice whereby plants are cropped across or perpendicular to slopes along the contour. This arrangement of plants helps in breaking up the flow of water, making it harder for soil erosion to occur.

5. Construction of Dams: Dams can help in reducing the velocity of run-off water.

Land degradation is especially serious for a country like India, where the population pressure on land and land-based resources is very high.