Biodiversity & Environment

Model Answer

Environmental Effects of Agricultural Subsidies in India

Agricultural subsidies in India, including input subsidies and Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), have significantly impacted the environment. Key negative effects include:

1. Soil Degradation: Subsidies encourage intensive farming practices, leading to monocropping and excessive use of chemical fertilizers, which degrade soil health and reduce productivity.
2. Air Pollution: The fertilizer industry is a major polluter, releasing harmful substances like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. Agriculture contributes approximately 10-12% of India’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with low nitrogen use efficiency resulting in nitrous oxide emissions.
3. Water Pollution: Fertilizer production and usage contaminate groundwater and surface water. Discharges from urea plants contain nitrogen and cyanides, while excess fertilizers runoff into water bodies, causing harmful algal blooms.
4. Overexploitation of Groundwater: Power subsidies for irrigation have led to significant groundwater depletion, with regions like Punjab experiencing 79% over-exploitation of groundwater reservoirs.

Strategies to Mitigate Environmental Impact

To address these environmental challenges, several strategies can be implemented:

• Efficient Fertilizer Use: Promote balanced fertilization practices and support the use of Neem-coated urea to reduce chemical inputs.
• Drip Irrigation: Encourage the adoption of drip irrigation systems to minimize water wastage and improve water efficiency.
• Conditional Funding: Implement funding mechanisms that reward farmers for adopting environmentally friendly practices, such as reduced deforestation.
• Organic Farming: Promote organic farming methods that reduce reliance on chemical inputs and enhance soil health.
• Precision Agriculture: Utilize technologies like GPS and remote sensing to optimize resource use and minimize environmental impacts.
• Integrated Projects: Support collaborative projects that involve farmers and scientists to innovate sustainable agricultural practices.

The Indian government has initiated programs like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture to promote sustainable practices. However, further innovation and modern techniques are essential for long-term sustainability in agriculture.

Model Answer

Causes of Widespread Soil Degradation in India

Soil degradation in India is a pressing issue, with approximately 29.7% of land affected, as reported by the ISRO Atlas in 2021. The primary causes include:

1. Heavy Metal Pollution: Industrial activities such as mining, manufacturing, and improper waste disposal lead to soil contamination with heavy metals.
2. Climate Change and Natural Disasters: Changing weather patterns result in excessive rainfall and floods, which erode the topsoil. Other disasters like droughts and landslides also contribute to degradation.
3. Unsustainable Agricultural Practices: Practices such as excessive tillage, crop residue burning, and overuse of agrochemicals degrade soil health. These practices lead to soil acidification, nutrient depletion, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Deforestation: The removal of trees reduces soil cover, affecting its structure and nutrient availability, which in turn diminishes biological activity and water retention.
5. Urbanization: Urban development compacts the soil, removes vegetation, and alters drainage patterns, leading to increased runoff and erosion of topsoil.

Measures to Tackle Soil Pollution

In response to soil degradation, the Indian government has implemented several initiatives:

• Soil Health Card Scheme: This program provides farmers with information on soil nutrient status and recommended fertilizer dosages to maintain soil health.
• Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming practices to reduce chemical inputs.
• PM Krishi Sinchayi Yojana: Aims to improve irrigation efficiency and soil moisture retention through education and technology.
• National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission (GIM): Focus on afforestation to combat soil erosion and restore degraded lands.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana: Enhances soil fertility and productivity through various agricultural practices.

These measures are crucial for restoring soil health and achieving India’s goal of rehabilitating 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, which will also contribute to climate change mitigation by enhancing carbon sequestration in soils.

Model Answer

Challenges in Managing E-Waste in India

India, the third-largest e-waste generator in the world, produces 3.2 million tons of e-waste annually, and this figure is expected to quadruple by 2030. Despite this alarming growth, only 22.7% of the e-waste generated in 2019-2020 was properly collected, dismantled, and recycled. Several challenges hinder the efficient disposal of this waste:

1. Lack of a Robust E-Collection Chain
   A significant barrier to effective recycling is the lack of a dedicated and well-organized e-waste collection infrastructure. Formal recycling units handle just 15% of the total e-waste, with the rest managed by the informal sector using hazardous methods such as open-air incineration and acid leaching, leading to serious environmental and health risks.
2. Insufficient Infrastructure
   India has only 567 authorized recyclers spread across 22 states, with a total recycling capacity of 1.7 million tons—far below the amount of e-waste generated. This capacity gap contributes to improper disposal and inadequate recycling.
3. Limited Coverage of E-Waste Rules
   The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, initially covered only 21 types of electrical and electronic equipment. This has since been expanded to over 100 types, including photovoltaic cells, under the 2022 rules, addressing some gaps but still leaving challenges in enforcement and monitoring.
4. Limited Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
   E-waste often falls outside the mandate of municipal solid waste management, leaving ULBs with limited responsibility for its collection and proper handling. The role of ULBs needs to be strengthened to ensure comprehensive e-waste management.
5. Lack of Awareness and Financial Incentives
   Many consumers are unaware of the environmental impact of improper e-waste disposal and lack financial incentives to dispose of their e-waste responsibly. Moreover, the absence of clear market information on e-waste prices deters people from selling it to certified recyclers.

Ways to Ensure Timely and Safe Recycling

To address these challenges, several measures can be taken:

1. Dedicated E-Waste Department in ULBs
   A separate department in urban local bodies can focus on managing e-waste, especially in densely populated urban areas where most of the waste is generated.
2. Market Awareness and Price Transparency
   Providing widespread information about e-waste prices can help create a market-driven approach, encouraging consumers to sell their e-waste to authorized recyclers.
3. Strengthening the Informal Sector
   State governments should offer grants and incentives to small-scale informal e-waste recycling centers to upgrade their facilities, ensuring they comply with environmental and safety standards.
4. Adopting Best Practices from Developed Countries
   Learning from European countries, India can improve its e-waste management by setting realistic and incentivizing targets under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), encouraging producers to design more sustainable and recyclable electronics.

These strategies, alongside the implementation of the E-Waste Management Rules 2022, can help India manage its growing e-waste problem efficiently and safely.

Model Answer

Reasons for Increased Heat Wave Incidences in India

The recent surge in heat wave occurrences in India can be attributed to several interrelated factors:

1. Climate Change: Global warming is a significant driver of increased heat wave incidents. Rising global temperatures lead to more extreme weather events, including prolonged heat waves. A study indicated that the early and abnormal heat waves in India were made 30 times more probable due to climate change.
2. Urbanization: The rapid urbanization in India has resulted in the ‘urban heat island effect,’ where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their rural counterparts. This phenomenon occurs due to the heat-retaining properties of concrete and asphalt surfaces.
3. Reduced Natural Vegetation: The loss of vegetation, which naturally cools the environment through transpiration, exacerbates heat conditions. Urban development often replaces green spaces with impervious surfaces that absorb more solar radiation, leading to higher temperatures.
4. Water Scarcity: Encroachments on surface water resources reduce moisture in the air, contributing to higher temperatures. The lack of water bodies diminishes the natural cooling effect that these resources provide.

Mitigation Measures

To combat the adverse effects of heat waves, several mitigation strategies can be implemented:

1. Public Awareness: Educating the public about the health, environmental, and economic impacts of rising temperatures is crucial. Campaigns through schools and media can enhance awareness.
2. Integration of Policy Initiatives: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is collaborating with states to develop heat action plans. These plans should be integrated with local initiatives to ensure effective implementation.
3. Greening of Cities: Urban planning should prioritize increasing urban forest density and restoring wetlands. This can help lower temperatures and improve air quality.
4. Promoting Green Infrastructure: Encouraging the use of permeable materials in construction and upgrading building standards to reduce heat absorption can significantly mitigate heat effects. Utilizing insulated materials can also lower energy consumption for cooling.

The rising incidence of heat waves poses serious challenges, but with timely and effective strategies, the negative impacts can be minimized.

Model Answer

Significance of Mangroves for Coastal Communities and Biodiversity

Mangroves are vital ecosystems that provide numerous benefits to coastal communities and biodiversity. They serve as a natural barrier against storms and coastal erosion, protecting human settlements and infrastructure from the impacts of severe weather events. This protective function is crucial for reducing the risks associated with coastal hazards, thereby safeguarding lives and properties.

In terms of biodiversity, mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet. They support nearly 3,000 species of fish and a diverse array of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to these habitats. Mangroves also provide essential breeding and nursery grounds for various marine species, contributing significantly to the health of coastal fisheries. Furthermore, they are home to a wide range of mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates, enhancing overall biodiversity in coastal regions.

Mangroves also play a critical role in the livelihoods of approximately 120 million people living in coastal areas. The resources they provide, such as wood, fish, and other minor produce, are integral to the diets and lifestyles of these communities. Additionally, mangrove ecosystems support eco-tourism, generating income and employment opportunities for local populations.

The MISHTI Scheme

In recognition of the importance of mangroves, the Union Budget 2023-24 introduced the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI). This scheme aims to enhance the regeneration and sustainable utilization of mangrove ecosystems across India. Key features of the MISHTI scheme include:

• Expansion of Mangrove Area: The initiative plans to increase mangrove plantations along coastlines and salt pan lands, targeting an area of 540 square kilometers across 11 states and 2 Union Territories over the next five years.
• Convergence of Schemes: The scheme will leverage existing programs, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund, to fund mangrove restoration efforts.
• Collaboration and Best Practices: MISHTI emphasizes the incorporation of best practices in plantation techniques and management, promoting public-private partnerships for resource mobilization.
• Environmental Focus: This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance environmental conservation and combat climate change, as mangroves are known for their high carbon sequestration potential.

The MISHTI scheme is a timely intervention, addressing the threats faced by mangrove ecosystems due to commercialization and development pressures.