Question

Write any 5 causes of deforestation in india under the colonial rule

Answer 1

The population rose and demand for food grew.

The British encouraged the cultivation of more commercial crops like wheat, cotton etc. So forests were cut to expand the area under cultivation.

By 19th century the oak forests in Europe started vanishing. British wanted strong and durable timber for ships. So search parties were sent to India and trees were cut indiscriminately.

By 1960's the railway expanded. The govt. gave contracts to individuals for supplying required amount of timber.These contractors cut trees on a large scale.

For plantation : trees were cut to make way for plantations. The government controlled the land and gave it at cheap rates to plantation owners.