Natural resources issues in punjab Pakistan
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pakistan issues:
Environmental issues in Pakistan include deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, climate change, pesticide misuse, soil erosion, natural disasters and desertification.[1] These are serious environmental problems that Pakistan is facing, and they are getting worse as the country's economy expands and the population grows. Little is being done to tackle these issues, because the goals of economic growth and tackling terrorism within the country supersede the goals of environmental preservation. Although NGOs and government departments have taken initiatives to stop environmental degradation, Pakistan's environmental issues still remain
punjab issues:
1) Air:
Factors affecting air quality in Punjab
1. Industrial Pollution 2.Vehicular Pollution . 3. Agricultural Pollution 4.Domestic Processes
15,021 units in 2015-16 red category industries (highly polluting) using coal or rice husk as fuel and contributing high levels of suspended particulate, oxide nitrogen and sulphur, organic compounds and other pollutants in the air.
High level of RSPM recorded from industrial zones of the state
Massive growth of vehicles (3,60,154 in 1981 to 90,64,476 in 2015-16) contributing to carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, etc.
Air pollution due to burning of Paddy Straw in the agricultural fields
Generation of Fly Ash
2) water
Punjab is transversed by 4 major rivers i.e. Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar(seasonal) having water potential of about 14.54 MAF. It has 14,500 km long canal system and 8000 km of drainage system.
21 wetlands covering an area of 155.78 sq.km(0.30% TGA of State): 12 Natural wetlands and 9 manmade wetlands( including 3 Ramsar Sites)
The depth of ground water in most parts of state ranges between 5-20m below ground level (mbgl) except in south western parts where it is less than 5mbgl.
Intensive Agriculture dominated by paddy wheat monoculture has led to over exploitation of water resources in Punjab.
The state has the highest stage of ground water development of 172 % (indicating the annual water consumption is very high compared to its annual recharge) amongst all the states in India (Source: Central Ground Water Board, 2017).
Ground water in 80% (110 blocks out of 138 Blocks) of the geographical area is over exploited (source: http://irrigation.punjab.gov.in/Water-Resources.aspx as cited on 11-08-2017).
The problem of over exploitation of ground water resources is most severe in Central Punjab, usually called “sweet water zone” and dominated by rice crop in Kharif season (Source: Economic Survey of Punjab, 2016-17).
In Punjab shallowest water level conditions prevail in southwest parts mainly in Faridkot, Muktsar and Ferozpur districts, while deepest water level conditions exist in the central and north eastern parts of the state covering Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Rupnagar and Sangrur districts (Source: Ground Water Monitoring Report, 2016)
The depletion of ground water level is attributed to increase in number of tubewells. The number of tube wells has increased from 3 lakhs in 1975 to 14 lakhs in 2015-16. (Source: Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 2016)
By 2023, the water table depth in central Punjab is projected to fall below 70 feet in 66% area, below 100 feet in 34% area and below 130 feet in 7% area
Quality of ground water in the state changes from good to poor from North to South/South West (Good quality-51%, marginal quality- 37%, poor quality-12%)
14298 red category industries contributing as point sources of pollution
High level of BOD and heavy metals recorded from river Sutlej, Ghagger,
Other challenges of water sectors include ever increasing demand, canal efficiency below their designated capacity, water logging in South-Western Districts and potable drinking water accessibility in SW districts.
3) forest:
Only 6.58% (3315 Sq. Km.) of total geographical area of the state under forests i.e. tree cover: 1544 sq. km and forest cover:1771 sq. km (Source: FSI, 2015)
Major forests areas includes Shivalik, Bir and Mand
District Hoshiarpur has the maximum Forest cover (687 sq.km) followed by Ropar (391 sq.km) in the State.
Factors affecting forest & wildlife in Punjab:
1. Increased urbanization
2. Change in land use pattern
3. Degradation of natural habitat & pollution
4. Increased demand of timber
5. Deforestation
6. Invasive alien species especially Lantana camara, Parthenium hysterophorus & Eichhornia crassipes
7. Poaching & illegal trade of wildlife products
Forest fire and encroachments
Soil erosion in shivaliks tracts