Que1.
What is environmental pollution? Tell its types. Or what is the
difference between pollution and pollutants?
ANS. Unwanted substances in the environment which are harmful
to the environment are called environmental pollution.
When man crosses the limits of
nature and acts against the ecosystem, pollution begins. Dust, smoke, filth,
solid particles, dirty water, unnecessary noise etc. are called environmental
pollutants.
Types of environmental pollution:-
1. Water
pollution
2. Air
pollution
3. Noise
pollution
4. Ground
or soil pollution
Que2.
What is water pollution? Tell its reasons and its solutions. Or
describe the nature of water pollution in India.
ANS. Unwanted substances in water which are harmful to the
health of water and animals are called water pollution.
Causes of water pollution: -
1. Dumping
dirty water and sewerage from cities, human settlements and factories into
rivers.
2. Population
growth.
3. Industrial
waste, like leather industry – Kanpur, pollutes the river Ganga.
4. Soil
erosion caused by intense rainfall in the mountains.
5. Remains
of plants and animals.
6. Location
of petrochemical industry, textile industry, jute industry, sugar industry etc.
on the banks of rivers.
7. Heap
of urban waste and garbage.
8. Mixing
of contaminated water with ground water during rains.
9. Oil
leakage from oil tankers in the seas.
10. Indiscriminate
use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural sector i.e.
fields.
11. Due
to pilgrimages, religious fairs, tourism etc.
12. To
shed the ashes in the rivers.
13. Waste
water of Delhi is the main cause of pollution of Yamuna River.
Effects of water pollution:-
1. Water
borne diseases, like diarrhea, intestinal worms, hepatitis.
2. Contamination
of ground water.
3. Degradation
of water quality of rivers.
4. Death
of river or aquatic organisms.
5. Threat
to the existence of aquatic organisms.
6. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, about one-fourth of the
communicable diseases in India are water-borne.
Measures to prevent water pollution:-
1. Recycling
water.
2. Making
strict rules and laws and giving strict punishment for contempt.
3. To
control the population.
4. To
dispose of waste as organic fertilizer.
5. To
increase public awareness.
6. To
prevent water pollution, Ganga cleaning campaign “Namami Gange Programme”
has been started at the national level. Under which, to reduce the pollution of
Ganga River, which is considered the most sacred river of India, which flows
through densely populated areas, which remains a matter of concern, making
arrangements for sewer treatment in cities, monitoring industrial flows,
Developing rivers, increasing afforestation and biodiversity along river banks,
cleaning river beds, not putting any kind of substance in the river and
creating awareness among the people etc. These include
developing 'Ganga Gram' in Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand.
Que3.
What is air pollution? Explaining its reasons, tell the measures to
prevent it. Or describe the main sources of air pollution or what are the
effects of air pollution on human health?
ANS.
Unwanted substances in the air,
such as dust, smoke and smell etc. which reduce the quality of air, are called air
pollution.
Causes of air pollution: -
1. Smoke from factories and means
of transport.
2. Excessive population growth
3. Indiscriminate cutting of trees.
4. Brick kilns
5. Dust storms
6. Volcanic eruption
7. Wildfire
8. Municipal waste and garbage heap
9. Spraying of chemical fertilizers
and pesticides in fields
10. Bacteria and viruses.
11. Burning of fossil fuels like coal,
petrol, and diesel etc.
12. Nuclear explosion
13. Chemical Processes
14. Mining work.
Effects of air pollution:-
1. Respiratory diseases, such as
asthma, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, allergies etc.
2. Air pollution.
3. Smoke and fog appear.
4. Increase in global warming.
5. Occurrence of acid rain.
6. Increase in greenhouse gases on
Earth.
7. WHO report states that air
pollution is the biggest killer cause of death in South East Asia.
8. Air pollution is the cause of
approximately 8 lakh deaths every year worldwide.
9. Chernobyl
(Ukraine), Dzerzhinsk (Russia), Haina (Dominican Republic), Kabwe (Zambia), La
Oroya (Peru), Linfen (China), Mailuu-Suu (Kyrgyzstan), Norilsk (Russia),
Ranipet (Tamil Nadu, India), Rudnaya Pristan (Russia) etc. cities called Living
Hell.
Measures to prevent air pollution:-
1. Making strict rules and laws and
giving strict punishment for contempt.
2. To control the population.
3. To increase public awareness.
4. Planting trees.
5. Increasing use of public
vehicles.
6. Working within the limits of
nature.
7. Getting vehicles checked
regularly.
8. Increasing the use of hydropower
etc. instead of fossil fuels.
9. To use solar energy as much as
possible.
10. To dispose of municipal waste.
Note - Unwanted substances in the air, such as dust, smoke and
smell etc. which reduce the quality of air, are called air pollution.
Causes of air pollution: - Smoke from factories and means of transport, excessive
population growth, indiscriminate cutting of trees, brick kilns, dusty storms,
volcanic eruptions, forest fires, heaps of urban waste and garbage, chemical
fertilizers in fields and Spraying of pesticides, bacteria and viruses, burning
of fossil fuels like coal, petrol, diesel etc., nuclear explosions, chemical
processes, mining operations etc.
Que4.
What is noise pollution? Tell its reasons and its solutions. OR
Describe the causes, effects and measures of noise pollution.
ANS.
Unwanted
sound which is unpleasant to the ears is called noise pollution.
It is different from water, soil and air pollution because its effects can be
immediate as well as permanent.
Noise
pollution is measured in decibels (Db). The instrument for measuring
decibels is called sound meter. Zero to 25 decibels of sound; Quiet up
to 65 decibels; Normal sound up to 65 – 75 decibels; Noise above 75 decibels;
Danger to health at 90 to 120 decibels; Sound of 120 to 190 decibels is
unbearably painful. According to WHO (World Health Organization), 45 decibel
sound is safe for human health. Generally, human ears can clearly hear
sounds ranging from 20 to 20,000 vibrations per second.
Causes of noise pollution: -
1. Noise of
factories and transportation.
2. Noise of
airplanes and supersonic aircraft
3. Dynamite
explosion.
4. War
practice
5.
Loudspeaker
6. Volcanic
eruption, lightning, thunder
7. DJ,
Radio, TV etc.
8. Nuclear
explosion
9.
Fireworks
10. Mining
operations
11. Siren
12. Hawkers
13.
Periodic noise related to community activities and festivals
Effects of noise pollution:-
1. Burst of
eardrum
2.
Irritability,
3.
Headache,
4. Stress,
5. Anger
6. High
blood pressure (HIGH BP)
7. Physical
fatigue
8. Insomnia
9.
According to a study by Scripps Institute of Oceanography, noise in the oceans
has increased 10 times more than in the 1960s. Noise pollution levels in the
oceans have been 10 to 12 decibels higher in 2003-04 than in 1964-1966.
Measures to prevent noise pollution:-
1. Making
strict rules and laws and giving strict punishment for contempt.
2. To
increase public awareness.
3.
Increasing use of public vehicles.
4. Getting
vehicles checked regularly.
5. Using
silencers.
6. To
entertain in a controlled voice in religious occasions, marriage etc.
7.
Prohibiting pressure horns.
8. Planting
trees on roadsides etc.
Que5.
Write an essay on the problem of urban waste disposal. OR Describe
the major problems related to municipal waste disposal in India. OR In which
river is Delhi's domestic and industrial waste dumped?
ANS.
Urban areas
are highly populated. Due to the increasing population, the cleanliness system
here is generally poor. Due to heaps of filth everywhere and polluted air,
disposal of municipal waste has become a problem for every big metropolis like
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru etc. and small cities and towns.
Piles of
solid waste are piling up in cities. For example, a mountain of garbage has
formed on Karnal Byepass of Delhi. Delhi's domestic and industrial waste is
dumped into the Yamuna River.
Solid waste
includes plastic items, polythene bags, waste paper, old furniture, CD, DVD
etc., whereas wet waste includes greens and vegetable waste etc. generated
after use in daily life.
Major problems or effects related to municipal waste
disposal:-
1. The
smell of solid waste spreads far and wide.
2. A pile
of filth becomes a refuge for flies, mosquitoes, rats, pigs and dogs.
3. The foul
smell emanating from here becomes a threat to life and living beings.
4. Diseases
like typhoid (intermittent fever), diphtheria, diarrhea and cholera spread.
5. Ground
water also gets polluted.
Solution or disposal of major problems related to
municipal waste disposal:-
1. The
public should sort garbage before throwing it away.
2.
Recycling should be promoted.
3. Research
work should be done to generate thermal power etc. from waste.
4. Making
organic fertilizer (compost) etc.
5. By
spreading public awareness.
Que6.
Daurala (Meerut) is an exemplary example of ecological restoration
and human health. How ?
ANS. Daurala is a small town in Uttar Pradesh near Meerut. It is
located in the north direction from Meerut city on Meerut - Khatauli -
Muzaffarnagar National Highway 334, at a distance of 84 km from the National Capital Delhi. Around 12000
populations reside here.
In the sixties (1960-70), many
metallurgical and sugar industries started coming up here. As a result,
problems like environmental pollution, contamination of drinking water,
overcrowding, migration problems, declining quality of life etc. started
increasing.
These problems got the attention of
a non-governmental organization (NGO). This organization started making
the people there aware and made efforts for health. The organization used
powerful arguments and authentic studies to convince industrial owners,
government organizations, district administrations, and other environmental
protection advocates.
Due to public awareness, efforts of
this organization and the help of the district administration, the residual
water from the industries was collected through pipeline in a pond 900 m away
from here and made reusable. Before this the silt of that pond was cleaned.
Structures were built at various places to collect rain water. This reduced the contamination of ground water. More than 1000 trees were planted. These efforts gave a new life to 12000 people of Daurala.
Que7.
What is called slum? Describe the problems of Dharavi – Asia's
largest slum. OR Describe the problems of slums in India OR Describe the
problems of slums in India.
ANS.
Illegally settled, overcrowded
human settlements are called slums.
Dharavi (Mumbai), is the largest slum in Asia. There is one toilet
for every 1440 persons.
It is actually a part of the ocean
which is a place filled with garbage. The streets here are so narrow that it is
difficult for even a bicycle to pass through. There is only one road through
this slum, misnamed ‘Ninety Foot Road’, which has been reduced to less
than half its width. Buses pass only on the periphery of Dharavi. Here 10 to 12
people live in each room. There is no shade of trees in Dharavi because it is a
treeless colony.
However, Dharavi has played an
important role in making Mumbai wealthy. The most beautiful, valuable and
useful products of the country are made here. Such as – pottery, brocade work,
jewellery, wooden mosaic and furniture etc.
The common problems or
characteristics of slums are as follows:-
1. These are illegal settlements
situated on vacant land, private or public land.
2. In this, the owner of the land
is not the land owner but he is in illegal possession of the land.
3. Housing conditions in these
settlements are very low.
4. The streets here are very
narrow.
5. The houses in these are kutcha
and small.
6. There is lack of pure air,
water, toilets etc. in these settlements.
7. There is a lot of crowd here.
8. Most of the low income people
live here.
9. Dilapidated house
10. Anti-social problems like
poverty, crime, alcoholism, drug trade, hooliganism etc.
11. Most of their residents are
migrant population.
12. In India, these are known by
the names unauthorized settlement, illegal settlement, slum and
Jhuggi Jhopari etc.
They are known by the names Ranchos in
Venezuela, Favelas in Brazil, Cavities / KEVTTIES
in Myanmar and Shanty Towns in many other places.
 |
| Map showing major SLUM area in World |
Que8.
Why is
Jhabua famous?
ANS.
1. Reasons to improve the condition of the environment
2. Due to water management
Que9.
What is land degradation? Tell its reasons and its solutions. Or
suggest measures to reduce land degradation.
ANS.
Reduction
in the production capacity of land or erosion of land is called land
degradation. At present, 13 crore hectares of land in India, 56% of which
is eroded by water, is degraded.
Reasons for land degradation:-
1.
Deforestation/Deforestation,
2.
Excessive pastoralism,
3. Mining
4.
Over-irrigation
5. Use of
excessive fertilizers
6. Overuse
of pesticides
7. Heavy
rain
8. Soil
erosion
Mining is the main cause of land degradation in Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, MP, Odisha and Maharashtra etc. Animal grazing is the main
cause of land degradation in Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, and Maharashtra etc. The
main reasons for land degradation in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh
are over-irrigation, water logging, fertilizers and pesticides etc.
Main measures to prevent soil degradation:-
1. Planting
forests,
2. Managing
pastureland,
3.
Installing shelter belts for trees,
4. To
control animal grazing,
5. Planting
thorny bushes on sandy dunes,
6. To
control mining,
7. Using
green and organic fertilizers,
8. To
manage irrigation,
9.
Purifying water,
10. To
manage barren lands.
Que 10 Choose the correct
answer from the four options given below:-
(i)
Which of the following river is highly polluted river?
(a)
Brahmaputra River (b) Sutlej River (c) Yamuna River (d) Godavari River
ANS.
(c) Yamuna River
(ii)
Which one of the following diseases is caused by water pollution?
(a)
Conjunctivitis (b) Diarrhea (c) Noise pollution (d) Air pollution
ANS.
(b) diarrhea
(iii)
Which one of the following is the cause of acid rain?
(a)
Water pollution (b) Land pollution (c) Noise pollution (d) Air pollution
ANS.
(d) air pollution
(iv)
Push and pull factors are responsible for -
(a)
Migration (b) Land degradation (c) Slums (d) Air pollution
ANS.
(a) Migration