Class XII – Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems – PYQs

Ans. Pollution of environment is caused by the release of unwanted substances from waste products of human activities. Pollution of environment is the introduction of pollutants that can cause damage to environment and harm to humans or other living species. It is the addition of an undesirable substance or form of energy to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate it by dispersion, breakdown, recycling etc. The four types of pollution which are responsible for the environmental degradation are

(i) Water pollution

(ii) Air pollution

(iii) Land pollution

(iv) Noise pollution

Ans. Human beings pollute India’s water bodies through industrial and agricultural activities in the following ways

● Wastewater, poisonous gases, chemical residuals, numerous heavy metals, nitrate and nitrites, chloride, flourides, insecticides, pesticides etc. from industries contribute to water pollution.

● Not all industries have treatment facilities for industrial affluents. Small scale industries cannot afford high investments in pollution control equipment. Thus, these industries release untreated wastewater into the rivers which pollutes them.

● Various type of chemicals that are used in modern agriculture are also pollution generating compounds. For example, inorganic fertilisers, herbicides, etc. These chemicals also infiltrate the soil to reach the groundwater.

Ans. A larger proportion of pollutants like dust fumes, gas, fog, odour, smoke or vapour in air for a long duration is known as air pollution.

The harmful effects or consequences of air pollution are

● Air pollution is responsible for many diseases that cause harm to our respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems.

● Air pollution is responsible for creating smoky fog over cities which is known as urban smog. It also has negative effects on human health.

● Air pollution is also responsible for acid rains. First rain after summers in urban areas is relatively acidic in nature i.e. it shows lower pH level than the subsequent rains.

● Air pollution may be harmful to flora and fauna and to property.

Ans. Three major problems associated with urban waste disposal in India are

(i) Solid wastes are threat to human health and can cause various diseases. It creates foul smell and it harbours flies and rodents that can cause typhoid, diphtheria, diarrhoea, malaria, cholera and other diseases.

(ii) Solid waste can create inconvenience rapidly if they are not properly handled. Pollutants can spread through rainwater or wind and can cause further problems.

(iii) Industrial solid waste can cause water pollution if it dumped into water bodies. Rivers in which untreated sewage is dumped also results into various health problems.

Ans. Noise pollution refers to a noise that causes a condition which is unbearable and uncomfortable to human beings. The sources of noise pollution are

(i) Factories, mechanised construction and demolition works, aircrafts, automobiles loudspeaker, siren, etc.

(ii) Noise produced by traffic is a major source of noise pollution. It creates a huge inconvenience to the people. Intensity and nature of noise made by traffic is dependent on various factors such as type of vehicle, (aircraft, train, etc.) condition of road and condition of vehicle (in case of automobiles).

(iii) In sea traffic, the noise pollution is limited to the harbour because of loading and unloading activities of containers.

(iv) Noise pollution from industries is also a serious problem, but its intensity varies because of some factors such as types of industry, types of machines and tools, etc.

Ans. Slums are those areas /colonies which develop when migrants were forced to migrate from the rural areas to urban areas/centres in search of livelihood but due to high rent and high cost of land, they could not afford proper housing. Thus, they are forced to live in slums.

Problems of slums in India are

● Slums are environmentally incompatible and degraded areas.

● Slums have dilapidated (broken-down) houses where people are forced to live due to poverty or lesser income.

● People of slums face poor hygienic conditions. Thus, they are prone to many diseases and illness.

● The houses in slums have poor ventilation. So, people residing there face suffocation problems.

● Slums have substandard housing or illegal and inadequate building structures.

● Slums are overcrowded having narrow street pattern which is prone to serious hazards, e.g. Fire hazards because of congested spaces, which increase the chances of its spread.

● Slums lack in basic amenities like drinking water, light and toilet facilities.

● They are marked by unregulated drainage system and open defecation.

● Besides this, most of the slum dwellers engage in low-paid, high risk-prone unorganised sectors of the urban economy. Because of such situation they are undernourished, prone to different types of illness.

● Due to poverty, slum dwellers are unable to give proper education to their children.

● Poverty has also made slum people vulnerable to drug abuse, alcoholism, crime, vandalism, escapism, apathy and ultimately social exclusion.