<h5 id="environmental-pollution">Environmental Pollution</h5> <ul> <li>Environmental pollution is caused by the release of substances and energy from waste products of human activities.</li> <li>It is classified into four main types: air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, and noise pollution.</li> <li>Air pollution results from the release of harmful substances into the Earth’s atmosphere.</li> <li>Water pollution occurs when harmful substances are discharged into bodies of water, making it unsuitable for use.</li> <li>Land pollution is the contamination of land due to human activities, while noise pollution is the excessive, displeasing human, animal, or mechanical noise that disrupts the natural environment.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="water-pollution">Water Pollution</h5> <ul> <li>Industrial pollution from towns like Kanpur, and domestic wastes from urban centers are the primary sources of pollution in the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.</li> <li>Cities such as Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, and Kolkata release domestic waste into the river Yamuna, from Delhi to its confluence with Chambal and from Delhi to Mathura and Agra.</li> <li>Extraction of water by Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for irrigation and agricultural run-off resulting in high levels of micro-pollutants in the Yamuna are the major sources of pollution in the Yamuna river.</li> <li>Domestic and industrial waste of Delhi flowing into the river Yamuna is another significant source of pollution.</li> <li>The National Mission for Clean Ganga and Namami Gange Programme were initiated to improve the condition of the river and reduce water pollution.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="air-pollution">Air Pollution</h5> <ul> <li>Air pollution is the addition of contaminants like dust, fumes, gas, fog, odour, smoke or vapour to the air in substantial proportion and duration that can be harmful to flora, fauna, and property.</li> <li>Major sources of air pollution are combustion of fossil fuels, mining, and industries, releasing oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, and asbestos.</li> <li>Air pollution can cause various diseases related to respiratory, nervous, and circulatory systems and can lead to urban smog, which is particularly harmful to human health.</li> <li>The Namami Gange Programme, launched by the Union Government, aims to develop sewerage treatment systems, monitor industrial effluents, develop river front, increase biodiversity, clean the river surface, develop Ganga Grams, and create public awareness to avoid adding pollutants to the river.</li> <li>Rainwater analysis of urban environments has shown that the pH value of the first rain after summer is always lower than the subsequent rains, indicating the presence of air pollution.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="noise-pollution">Noise Pollution</h5> <ul> <li>Noise pollution is the state of being unbearable and uncomfortable to humans, caused by noise from various sources.</li> <li>Major sources include factories, mechanized construction and demolition works, automobiles and aircraft, sirens, and loudspeakers.</li> <li>Noise level is measured in decibels (dB), with varying intensity from different sources.</li> <li>Traffic noise is the biggest nuisance due to factors like type of vehicle, condition of road, and air traffic.</li> <li>Ocean noise has increased tenfold since the 1960s due to global shipping, with unknown effects on marine life. Noise pollution intensity declines with distance from the source.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="urban-waste-disposal">Urban Waste Disposal</h5> <ul> <li>Urban areas often have issues with overcrowding, congestion, and inadequate facilities, leading to poor sanitary conditions and foul air.</li> <li>Solid waste, which includes materials like metal fragments, broken glassware, plastic containers, and polythene bags, is disposed of from two main sources: households and industrial/commercial establishments.</li> <li>Improper disposal of solid waste can lead to health hazards, including the spread of diseases by flies and rodents. Industrial waste can also contribute to water pollution when dumped into rivers.</li> <li>In India, urban waste disposal is a significant issue, with a large percentage of solid waste not being collected, particularly in smaller cities and towns.</li> <li>A successful case study comes from Daurala, where an NGO worked with industrialists, government officials, and residents to address contaminated groundwater and improve the overall ecological situation. This was achieved by enhancing water supply infrastructure, cleaning and recharging a silted pond, constructing rainwater harvesting structures, and planting trees.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="rural-urban-migration">Rural-Urban Migration</h5> <ul> <li>Rural-urban migration is primarily driven by factors such as high demand for labor in urban areas, low job opportunities in rural areas, and an unbalanced pattern of development between urban and rural areas.</li> <li>In India, the rate of urbanization is increasing rapidly, with a notable trend of poorer populations bypassing smaller and medium-sized cities in favor of mega cities for their livelihood.</li> <li>The demand for labor in urban areas is a significant pull factor, as job opportunities and wages are typically higher in cities.</li> <li>Conversely, limited job opportunities and resources in rural areas, along with uneven development between urban and rural regions, contribute to push factors that drive migration.</li> <li>Understanding the process of rural-urban migration involves analyzing these push and pull factors, as well as the specific circumstances and patterns within different countries or regions, such as India.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="comments">Comments</h5> <ul> <li>Rural-urban migration in developing countries is often due to poverty and lack of education or skills.</li> <li>Many migrants from rural areas end up in informal sectors of urban areas, doing menial jobs for low wages.</li> <li>The wages are typically too low to support a family at the destination, leading to a pattern where males migrate and females stay behind in rural areas.</li> <li>Females left behind in rural areas often take care of children and elderly relatives.</li> <li>This migration trend is predominantly male due to the nature of jobs available and the low wages offered.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="problems-of-slums">Problems of Slums</h5> <ul> <li>Dharavi, located in central Bombay, is Asia’s largest slum, known for its narrow lanes and overcrowded temporary buildings.</li> <li>Despite the poor living conditions, Dharavi is a major contributor to India’s economy, producing valuable items such as ceramics, pottery, embroidery, leather goods, and jewelry.</li> <li>The slum is home to a large population of scheduled castes and poor Muslims, who were forced to migrate from rural areas in search of livelihood.</li> <li>Slums are characterized by dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, and lack of basic amenities, leading to serious health and socio-environmental hazards.</li> <li>The Swachh Bharat Mission is a government initiative aimed at improving the quality of life in urban slums, addressing issues such as open defecation, unregulated drainage systems, and lack of drinking water and toilet facilities.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="land-degradation">Land Degradation</h5> <ul> <li>Land degradation is the decline in the productive capacity of land, often caused by soil erosion, waterlogging, salinization, and alkalinization.</li> <li>It can lead to a permanent or temporary reduction in land productivity and, if unchecked, can convert agricultural land into wasteland.</li> <li>Land degradation can be induced by both natural processes and human activities, with human-induced degradation being more significant.</li> <li>Natural causes include gullied/ravinous land, desertic or coastal sands, barren rocky areas, steep sloping land, and glacial areas.</li> <li>Human-induced degradation includes waterlogged and marshy areas, land affected by salinity and alkalinity, degraded shifting cultivation areas, degraded land under plantation crops, degraded forests, degraded pastures, and mining and industrial wastelands.</li> </ul> <p>======</p>