Question

When and why did the forest around the railway track starts disappearing very fast. explain

Answer 1

(1)From the 1860s, the railway network expanded rapidly. (2)By 1890, about 25,000 km of railway track had been laid. [3] In 1946, the length of the tracks had increased to over 7,65,000 km. [4] As the railway track spread through India, a larger and larger number of trees were felled. [5] The government gave out contracts to individuals to supply the required quantities. These contractors began cutting trees indiscriminately. This was the reason why the forest around the railway tracks fast started disappearing.

Answer 2

Answer

(i)  The spread of railways from 1850’s created a new demand for timber.

(ii)  Railway was needed for the spread of trade in India.

(iii)  To run locomotives, wood was needed as fuel and to lay railway lines sleepers were required to hold the tracks together.

(iv)  As the railway tracks spread, a large number of trees were felled.

(v)  The Government gave contracts to individuals to supply timber.

(vi)  These contractors began cutting trees indiscriminately.