Class XI
Economics
Indian
Economic Development
Chapter –
13
Environment
and Sustainable Development
1. What is meant by environment?
Answer. Environment
is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all
resources. It includes all the biotic and abiotic factors that influence each
other.
2. What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
Answer. When
the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration, the
environment fails to perform its vital function of life sustenance which results
in an environmental crisis.
3. Classify the following into renewable and non-renewable resources
(i) trees (ii)
fish (iii) petroleum (iv) coal (v)
iron-ore (vi) water
Answer. Water,
trees and fish are the renewable resources. Petroleum, coal and iron-ore are
non-renewable resources.
4. Two major environmental issues facing the world today are_____________
and_____________.
Answer.
Global warming, ozone depletion.
5. How do the following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India? What problem do they pose for the government?
(a) Rising population
It
creates pressure on available resources. The intensive and extensive extraction
of both renewable and non-renewable resources has led to exhaustion of the
vital resources. Also, the explosive population size has triggered excessive
demand for housing, thereby, resulting in widespread deforestation and fast
depletion of other natural resources leading to ecological imbalances.
Therefore, it is high time for the Indian government to take preventive
measures to control population explosion.
(b) Air Pollution
In
India, it is widespread in urban areas. Increased vehicular population is the
major reason of air pollution in cities. Even in villages, burning of firewood &
cow dung cakes contributes to air pollution. This causes hypertension, asthma,
respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Therefore, the Indian government
should take various steps to control air pollution, avoid deforestation,
increase health investment and also search for new alternative pollution free
technology such as CNG, etc.
(c) Water contamination
Pollution
of water is posing a serious threat to human life. It is one of the principal
causes of all deadly diseases such as diarrhea, hepatitis, cholera, etc. It
occurs due to dumping of industrial waste, agricultural waste and sewerage into
the water bodies. Thus, the Indian government should put a check on wastewater
disposal. This calls for high capital investment for installation and
maintenance of purifier machines.
(d) Affluent consumption standards
The recent influence of the West and a rise in purchasing
power of the middle class has led to affluent consumption standards and
unnecessary luxuries with a lifestyle of conspicuous consumption have
increased. This placed a huge stress on the environment in terms of resources
supply and assimilation of waste. The resources have become extinct and wastes
generated are beyond the absorption capacity of the environment leading to
environmental crises. The government is compelled to spend huge amounts on
research and development to explore alternative environment friendly resources.
(e) Illiteracy
It is a social problem leading to the lack of awareness
about environment and the harmful effects of various practices or products on
the environment. The lack of knowledge and skills may lead to excessive
extraction of resources and, thereby, its misuse. Thus, the government should
take measures to create awareness and spread technical knowledge among people
about various efficient and economizing methods.
(f) Industrialization
On
one hand, it enhances our living standards but, on the other hand, it causes
deforestation, depletion of natural resources. In the blind rage to achieve
economic development, industrialization acts as a catalyst. In order to speed
up the process of industrialization, natural resources are exploited at a rapid
pace. More trees are being felled and increasing volume of toxics and
industrial wastes are dumped into the water bodies. All these culminate to
ecological imbalances posing threat to sustainable economic development. Thus,
the government should take measures to check undue and unnecessary industrial
growth in order to restore ecological balance.
(g) Urbanization
On
the one hand, it infuses modernization of lifestyle but, on the other hand, it
leads to deforestation. In order to meet the growing demand for houses, more
trees are to be felled, decreasing the land-per-man ratio. Rapid urbanization
puts an excess burden on the natural resources, causing depletion. Urbanization
also reduces the availability of land for farming purpose and lowers farm
outputs. Hence, the government should take measures to mitigate the impact of
urbanization by promoting small and cottage rural industries, rural
infrastructural development, thereby, reducing the rural-urban migration.
Further, the government should also promote afforestation and most importantly,
adopt measures to arrest population explosion.
(h) Reduction of forest coverage
The need for reduction of forest coverage or deforestation
arises due to the growing demand for land, wood, rise in population and river-valley
projects. Deforestation leads to reduction in oxygen level in air, soil
erosion, climate change and global warming due to rise in the CO2
level. Thus, measures are needed to promote afforestation, opening up of
sanctuaries & national park like Jim Corbett National Park.
(i) Poaching
It
is the illegal capturing, killing and hunting of animals. Due to this, many
animals are on the verge of extinction. The excessive hunting and killing of
animals result in serious ecological imbalances. Thus, in order to save the
rare species such as Tiger, Asian Elephants, Grevy's Zebra, etc. more
sanctuaries and national parks are to be set up. There is also need for various
environmental legislations like Endangered Species Act in the USA that imposes
strict penalties on the law breakers.
(j) Global Warming
It is a gradual increase in the average
temperature of the earth due to environmental pollution and deforestation. It
is caused by the emission of Green House Gases that include, particularly,
carbon dioxide. The increase in the level of carbon dioxide raises the temperature
of the earth surface. This risen temperature accelerates the melting of polar
ice that further leads to the rise in the sea level. Thus, the incidence of
natural calamities rises due to disturbed ecological balance, posing a threat
to human life.
6. What are the functions of the environment?
Answer. Function
of Environment are:
→ It supplies resources.
→ It assimilates waste.
→ It sustains life by providing genetic and
bio diversity.
→ It also provides aesthetic services like
scenery etc.
7. Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Answer. The
factors contributing to land degradation in India are:
→ Loss of vegetation occuring due to
deforestation
→ Unsustainable fuel wood and fodder
extraction
→ Shifting cultivation
→ Encroachment into forest lands
→ Forest fires and over grazing
→ Non-adoption of adequate soil conservation
measures.
8. Explain how the opportunity costs of
negative environmental impact are high.
Answer. Opportunity
cost is the cost that is foregone when we make a choice or a decision. The
opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high due to following
reasons:
a) When the rate of resource extraction is higher than that
of its renewal then many resources get exhausted. Therefore, we are compelled
to spend huge amounts on technology and research to explore new resources.
b) Added to these are the health costs of degraded
environmental quality — decline in air and water quality have resulted in
increased incidence of respiratory and water-borne diseases. Hence, the expenditure
on health is also rising.
c) To make matters worse, global environmental issues such as
global warming and ozone depletion also contribute to increased financial
commitments for the government. Therefore, the opportunity costs of negative
environmental impact are high.
9. Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Answer. The
steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India are:
→ Use of non-conventional sources of
energy: This will help in reducing our dependency on
thermal power and hydel power. Thus, use of non-conventional sources of energy
will help in ensuring sustainable development.
→ LPG, Gobar gas: Use of LPG and gobar gas, especially in rural areas, will
help in reducing the extraction of firewood for fuel and reducing air pollution
& trees felling.
→ CNG in urban areas: As the example of Delhi shows increased use of CNG in
urban areas can help in improving air quality.
→ Wind power: Wind power is a renewable source of energy and can be
harnessed with available technology. Many wind farms are already operational in
India.
→ Solar power through photovoltaic cells: Solar panels are being used for powering traffic lights
and hoardings in many cities. Solar cells are also being used in water heaters
and for lightning purposes.
→ Mini-hydel plants: Mini hydel plants can be ideal for hilly areas which have
large number of streams. Mini hydel plants can help in supplying electricity to
remote areas and also in preventing transmission losses.
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