← All questionsGS1 · 2021 · Geography ·Reclaiming Urban Water Bodies
QUESTION 6
GS1
10 marks

What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples.

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7 min
150 words
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What the examiner wants

Explain the environmental consequences of converting lakes, wetlands and tanks into urban land, with city examples.

Explain with examplesAnswer exactly what the question asks.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Urban flooding as natural drainage and storage is lost≈30 words
  2. 2Groundwater recharge falls; heat island effect rises; loss of biodiversity and bird habitat≈30 words
  3. 3Pollution and sewage concentrated in the remaining water bodies≈30 words
  4. 4Examples: Chennai 2015 floods, Bengaluru lakes and 2022 floods, Mumbai's Mithi river, Srinagar's wetlands 2014≈30 words

Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.

Answer plan

IntroEach implication with one city exampleWay forward (wetland rules, blue-green infrastructure, AMRUT 2.0)Conclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Giving implications with no examples, although the question asks for them
  • Drifting into general urbanisation problems

Draw this

  • Before/after sketch: lake as sponge vs paved surface with runoff arrows

Value addition

  • ExampleA CAG audit of Chennai's 2015 floods and studies by Care Earth Trust link the floods to encroachment of tanks and the Pallikaranai marsh.CAG Report on Chennai floods (2017)
  • LawWetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 bar reclamation and permanent construction in notified wetlands.MoEFCC, Wetlands Rules 2017

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