Page 83 - Sugam Sarita
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CHAPTER 5
River Pollution
The population explosion and rapid economic development have
led to severe environmental degradation that neglects the sparing of
environmental resources on which sustainable development relies.
All over the world, the economic aspect of growth and development
becomes primary with an increase in profits, whereas the issue of
environmental pollution, depletion, and degradation of resources
take a backseat. The Indian scenario is a superlative version of this
worldwide phenomenon, prominently due to its heavy population.
The force of industrial development has resulted in tons of residuals,
having disastrous effects on the air, water, and land resources, which
is ironically lopsided to the contribution to all-around economic
growth. While the percentage of the iron and steel industry is 55℅ and
16% respectively, food and chemical processing calculate a whopping
total of 86℅ waste and 25% industrial output.
These trends of unsustainable growth greatly imperil the economically
backward sections to ecological degradation as well as pollution, on
account of their direct dependence on natural resources like soil,
and forests for necessities like fuel, wood, fodder, and water. In
the absence of alternatives, the vicious circle of weakening the base
support of the poor leading to perpetual poverty and a poor quality
of life continuing. Hence for a country like India, a key to lowering
the poverty percentage is the country’s ability to renew its natural
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