UPSC Mains 2021 GS1 Q6 — Urbanization and Environment
What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use ? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- What areExplain
- Scope keywords
- environmental implicationsreclamation of water bodiesurban land useexamples
- Implicit sub-parts
- The process and drivers of converting wetlands/ponds into urban plots.
- Direct environmental impacts on local ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Secondary systemic impacts such as urban flooding and groundwater depletion.
- Micro-climatic shifts including the intensification of Urban Heat Islands.
- Case-specific examples of Indian cities facing these consequences.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on the 'causes' of urbanization rather than the 'implications' of reclamation.
- Providing general environmental issues like 'pollution' without linking them specifically to the loss of water bodies.
- Failing to mention the 'sponge' effect of wetlands, leading to a generic essay on climate change.
- Omitting specific spatial examples like Chennai (2015) or Srinagar (2014) floods which are quintessential to this topic.
- Dimensions required
- Ecological/BiologicalHydrologicalClimatologicalDisaster ManagementSocio-Economic (indirectly via ecosystem services)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 20 words on the introduction defining reclamation. Devote 100 words to the core environmental implications across 4-5 distinct points, integrating examples like Deepor Beel or Ennore Creek within these points. Use the final 30 words for a forward-looking conclusion or mentioning the Ramsar Convention/NPCA guidelines.
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