Question

what is a significant current issue faced by the Kerala economy?

• A. Very low incidence of poverty.
• B. High rate of investment.
• C. Widespread environmental degradation.
• D. Formal nature of the agriculture and industrial sector.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Widespread environmental degradation.

Understanding Environmental Degradation in Kerala's Economy

• The Kerala Model of Development is often lauded for its high social development indicators, such as literacy, healthcare, and life expectancy, comparable to developed nations, despite having a relatively lower per capita income.
• However, this model now faces significant challenges, with widespread environmental degradation emerging as a critical issue threatening its sustainability and long-term economic stability.

Key Aspects of Environmental Degradation in Kerala:

• Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss:
  • Rapid reduction of forest cover, particularly in the Western Ghats, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's eighteen biodiversity hotspots.
  • Illegal logging, encroachment, and conversion of forest land for agriculture and development activities contribute significantly to this.
• Unregulated Sand Mining:
  • Excessive and often illegal sand mining from riverbeds has led to severe erosion of riverbanks, depletion of groundwater levels, and destruction of aquatic ecosystems.
  • This impacts drinking water availability, agricultural productivity, and increases the risk of flooding.
• Wetland Reclamation and Land Use Change:
  • Large-scale reclamation of paddy fields, backwaters, and other wetlands for construction and commercial purposes reduces natural flood buffers, exacerbates flooding, and destroys vital ecosystems.
  • The Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, aims to curb this, but enforcement remains a challenge.
• Pollution (Water, Air, and Waste):
  • Water Pollution: Industrial effluents, untreated domestic sewage, and agricultural runoff (pesticides and fertilizers) severely contaminate rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, impacting public health and aquatic life.
  • Air Pollution: Increasing vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and construction dust in urban centers contribute to deteriorating air quality.
  • Solid Waste Management: Inadequate waste collection and treatment systems lead to accumulation of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste, polluting land and water bodies.
• Coastal Erosion:
  • Intensified by climate change, rising sea levels, unscientific coastal construction, and offshore sand mining, coastal erosion threatens livelihoods of fishing communities and coastal infrastructure.
• Quarrying and Landslides:
  • Extensive stone quarrying for construction materials, often in ecologically sensitive areas, destabilizes hill slopes, leading to frequent landslides, especially during heavy monsoon seasons. The 2018 and 2019 Kerala floods saw numerous landslides, partly attributed to unscientific land use practices.

Economic and Social Impacts:

• Agriculture and Fisheries: Degradation of soil, water scarcity, and pollution directly impact agricultural yields and fish stock, affecting the livelihoods of a significant portion of the population.
• Tourism Sector: The 'God's Own Country' brand relies heavily on its natural beauty. Environmental degradation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity threaten the appeal and sustainability of its vital tourism industry.
• Disaster Management Costs: Increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters (floods, landslides, droughts) due to environmental degradation impose enormous costs on the state exchequer for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
• Public Health: Contaminated water and air lead to an increase in waterborne and respiratory diseases, placing an additional burden on public health infrastructure.
• Resource Scarcity: Depletion of natural resources like fresh water and sand leads to resource scarcity and increased costs for essential commodities.