- Land degradation means temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of land due to factors like soil erosion, waterlogging, salinity and alkalinity.
- Continuous use of land without maintaining fertility reduces soil quality and productivity, and may convert it into wasteland.
- Land degradation is caused by both natural factors (like ravines, desert sands, rocky and glacial areas) and human activities (like deforestation, overgrazing, mining and shifting cultivation).
- Studies show that man-made causes are more responsible for wasteland formation than natural causes.
- Watershed management programmes, like in Jhabua district (Madhya Pradesh), help prevent land degradation through community participation, afforestation, pasture development and proper land management.
Key Points
Key Points: Land Degradation
- Land degradation
Land degradation is the general wearing away and loss of productivity of land due to factors such as salinization, erosion, deforestation, flooding, water-logging and unplanned urbanization. - Importance of top soil
The fertile top soil (15–20 cm thick) contains essential plant nutrients, and its degradation directly reduces agricultural productivity. - Soil salinization
Soil salinization is caused by the accumulation of soluble salts (mainly sodium, calcium and magnesium salts) which adversely affect soil structure and crop yield. - Causes of salinization
Salinization occurs due to inadequate leaching in semi-arid regions, rising and fluctuating groundwater table, rapid evaporation, saline irrigation water, canal seepage and seawater intrusion in coastal areas. - Extent and impact in India
About 7 million hectares of land in India are salt-affected, especially in coastal, arid, semi-arid and Indo-Gangetic regions, posing a serious threat to sustainable agriculture.
Key Points: Urban Waste Disposal
- Urban areas face waste disposal problems due to overcrowding, poor sanitation and rapid population growth, causing foul air and pollution.
- Solid waste includes metals, glass, plastic, polythene bags, ash, CDs, debris, etc. It comes mainly from households and industrial/commercial units.
- Household waste is often dumped on public land or private sites, while industrial waste is disposed through municipal landfill areas.
- Solid waste creates health hazards by producing bad smell and breeding flies and rodents, spreading diseases like cholera, malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea and diphtheria.
- Waste disposal is a serious issue in India; big cities collect about 90% waste, but smaller towns struggle. Waste should be treated as a resource for making compost and energy, because untreated waste releases harmful gases like methane.
Key Points: Environmental Pollution
- Environmental pollution is caused by release of harmful substances and energy from human activities. It is classified into air, water, land and noise pollution.
- Water pollution occurs due to industrial waste, sewage, agricultural chemicals and religious activities. It causes diseases like diarrhoea, hepatitis and intestinal infections.
- Major polluted rivers in India include Ganga and Yamuna, mainly due to industrial waste, domestic sewage and agricultural run-off.
- Air pollution is caused by burning of fossil fuels, industries and vehicles. It releases harmful gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
- Air pollution leads to respiratory and heart diseases, urban smog and acid rain.
- Noise pollution is caused by traffic, industries, aircraft and loudspeakers. It is measured in decibels (dB) and affects human health.
- To reduce pollution, programmes like Namami Gange have been launched to clean rivers, control industrial waste and create public awareness.
Key Points: Land Degradation
Key Points: Rural–Urban Migration
- Rural–urban migration occurs due to lack of job opportunities in rural areas, high demand for labour in cities, and uneven development between rural and urban regions.
- Urban population grows because of natural increase, in-migration, and reclassification of rural areas. In India, a large part of urban growth is due to migration from villages.
- Poor and semi-skilled migrants usually work in the informal sector in cities at low wages and often do temporary or contract jobs.
- Migrants send remittances to their families in villages, which help improve living standards, support education, healthcare and agriculture.
- Rural–urban migration is mostly male-dominated, as men move to cities for work while families remain in villages due to job insecurity and low income.
Key points: Problems of Slums
- Urban centres are settlements different from rural areas in terms of functions, economy, culture and development level.
- India has a majority rural population (about 69% in 2011), and many villages depend on nearby urban centres as their hinterland.
- Urban and rural areas show a clear social, economic and technological divide, but they also complement each other.
- Urban areas are highly differentiated — some parts have modern infrastructure (wide roads, sanitation, parks, security), while others lack basic facilities.
- Slums are overcrowded settlements with poor housing, lack of clean water, sanitation and proper drainage, leading to serious health problems.
- Many slum dwellers are rural migrants who move to cities for work but cannot afford proper housing due to high land and rent costs.
- Poor living conditions in slums often lead to poverty, social problems, crime, poor education and social exclusion.
Important Questions [6]
- Jhabua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. Which among the following is correct meaning of 'land degradation'?
- Jhabua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. Why did the people of Jhabua tribal community suffer from poverty? Choose the option which is NOT correct.
- Jhabua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation?
- Habua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. Which statement is NOT correct regarding Jhabua?
- Jhabua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. How did people manage to develop pasture lands? Choose the correct option.
- Jhabua district is located in the westernmost agro-climatic zone in Madhya Pradesh. How did the Bhils, through their own efforts revitalise the common property resources? Choose the correct option.
