Management of Natural Resources

Natural resources are the materials provided by nature. They include forests, water,
coal and petroleum reserves. Day-by-day we are exploiting our natural resources.
River Ganga features an example for the exploitation of natural resources.
The river Ganga runs its course of over 2500 kilometres from Gangotri in the
Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Pollution of the river Ganga is due to activities like bathing, washing clothes,
immersion of the ashes of the dead, industrial effluents and release of untreated
sewage.
The coliform bacteria are usually found in the human intestine whose
presence in the Ganga water indicates contamination by faeces and diseasecausing micro-organisms.
The Ganga Action Plan project was launched in 1985 to clean the Ganga and
make its water free from pollution.
Forests are 'biodiversity hotspots' due to the sheer number as well as the variety of
species of flora and fauna that live in them.
Stake holders are people who live in and around forest, the forest
department of the government, industrialists, forest and wildlife activists etc.
We have to conserve forests which are of greater use to the environment.
The Chipko Andolan ('Hug the Trees Movement') originated in the 1970's, in a
village called Reni in Garhwal high up in the Himalayas. It was to save trees from
being cut down.
The conservation of forests by the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan became
well known because of Amrita Devi Bishnoi, who sacrificed her life in 1731 for the
protection of the Khejri trees in village Khejrali.
The role of the government in forest conservation includes owning of forest
land, controlling industries, framing rules to ensure that local people benefit and to
control illegal activities.
Biodiversity should be conserved. This happens by protecting flora and fauna
of the place.
The ways to conserve our resources are judicious use, long-term perspective,
and equitable distribution.
Pollution should be controlled.
The 3R's in conserving resources are Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
Sustainable development is not only about the resources we use but also ensures
that they are equally distributed. Stake holders together help in sustainable
management.
Government should control the industries in using raw materials. It should ensure
that local people should not be marginalised. Government should also control illegal
activities. Industries should play an important role in the management of natural
resources.

Water
Water is an essential form of life. Water is useful in agriculture, industries, cooking
and various domestic activities.Most of us depend on rainfall for water.
The rainfall pattern in India differs in different geographical regions. Tropical regions
receive more rainfall as compared to desert regions.
The passage of water from water bodies to the atmosphere and back to the earth is
called water cycle.
During water cycle, water from aquatic bodies evaporates into the atmosphere due
to sunlight and condenses into clouds. Due to air currents, the clouds turn into rains
and reach water bodies and the ground.
Forms of water
Around 97.5 percent of water in the oceans is salty. About 1.75 percent of
fresh water remains frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps while the remaining 0.75
percent exists as groundwater.
The advantages of groundwater are that it does not evaporate, it recharges
wells and it is protected from contamination by human and animal waste.
Dams
Dams are the structures constructed to divide and retain river water in a particular
area.
Some famous dams in India are the Bhakra Nangal Dam, the Sardar Sarovar
Dam and the Tehri Dam.
Dams provide water which is used to generate hydroelectric power.
Dams are also used to supply water for agriculture, for domestic purposes
and as drinking water in cities. Water from dams is distributed through canal
systems that transport stored water to great distances.
The Indira Gandhi Canal is one of the biggest canal projects in India which
provides water for Rajasthan.
The disadvantages of dams are deforestation, sedimentation, erosion of river
beds, and disruption of animal and plant life.
Watershed management
Watershed management is an integrated multi resource management of land and
water.
Watershed management aims at water conservation to increase biomass
production.
Water harvesting is an age old concept in India.
Water harvesting techniques are named differently at different places, but
the use remains the same. For example, Khadins and Nadis in Rajasthan, Bandharas
and Tals in Maharashtra, Bundhis in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Ahars and
Pynes in Bihar, and Eris in Tamil Nadu.
Kulhs in Himachal Pradesh, Kattas in Kerala, Trenches in Karnataka help in
recharging water resources.

Fossil fuels
Coal, petroleum and natural gas are the fossil fuels which provide us energy in
many activities of our life. These are non-renewable sources of energy.
Coal was formed hundreds of million years ago as a result of the action of
heat and pressure on decaying, buried plants in the swampy areas of the earth. It is
a continuous process taking place under the earth.
Coal helps in the production of thermal electricity. About 37 percent of the
worlds electricity is produced using coal.
Coal is a non-renewable but cheaper resource than other fuels like petroleum
and gas.
The disadvantages of fossil fuels are that they release carbon dioxide, oxides
of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur on combustion. Carbon dioxide causes global
warming.
Some alternative sources of energy are wind, solar, thermal and hydroelectric
energy. These are all viable options since they are more environment-friendly.
Energy conservation can be done by recycling and reusing plastic bags, switching
off lights, and also by using CFL bulbs.