Q.What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples.
How to approach: Break the explanation into logical causal factors, illustrate with a diagram/flowchart or map where relevant, and link to contemporary relevance.
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Land reclamation involves converting water bodies, wetlands, or low-lying muddy areas into dry land for urban, agricultural, or industrial use. While it addresses urban land scarcity, it carries severe ecological consequences.
Body
Environmental Implications:
Disruption of Aquatic Ecosystems: Urban encroachment around water bodies leads to severe pollution, nutrient loading (eutrophication), and ecological degradation (e.g., Dal Lake in Srinagar).
Increased Vulnerability to Flooding: Wetlands act as natural sponges absorbing excess rainfall. Reclaiming them drastically reduces natural drainage capacity, leading to urban floods. For instance, Mumbai lost 71% of its wetlands between 1970 and 2014, exacerbating flood risks.
Loss of Biodiversity and Species Extinction: Encroachment of lakes like Hussain Sagar in Telangana has raised Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) to critical levels (116 mg/l), decimating aquatic life and affecting migratory birds.
Contamination of Drinking Water: Natural water bodies filter and recharge groundwater. Their degradation leads to the concentration of hazardous heavy metals like arsenic, copper, and chromium in aquifers (e.g., arsenic contamination in West Bengal).
Geophysical Hazards: Reclaiming coastal land increases susceptibility to soil liquefaction and land subsidence during seismic events.
Conclusion
Water bodies are vital ecological assets providing essential services like groundwater recharge, flood mitigation, and climate regulation. Their conservation is indispensable for sustainable urban planning.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2021 (Question 3) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper I — Heritage, History, Society & Geography → Physical, Human & Indian Geography |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Explain: Clarify the underlying causes, mechanisms, and significance of the phenomenon in plain, structured terms. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2021 GS1 (Geography)
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This 2021 GS Paper I question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Explain" directive. Break the explanation into logical causal factors, illustrate with a diagram/flowchart or map where relevant, and link to contemporary relevance. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2021 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper I — Heritage, History, Society & Geography under the syllabus module "Physical, Human & Indian Geography". You can explore all repeated questions from Geography in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Geography PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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