(Meaning of agricultural development)

When agricultural development is done through agricultural land use intensification, diversification,
commercialization, increase in agricultural productivity and maintaining environmental quality, then
only agriculture is truly successful. development takes place. Often seen. That when the intensity of
land use increases, then only the agricultural productivity increases and as soon as this happens, the
natural fertility of the land starts getting adversely affected. Today, in order to meet the rate at which
the population is increasing in all agricultural countries, many measures are taken to get maximum
production from the agricultural land.

Changing nature of agriculture There has been a substantial change in the nature of agriculture. Earlier
agriculture was done in a traditional way in which plough, bullock, cow dung manure and seeds of
indigenous species were sown, but in modern agriculture high yielding seeds, fertilizers, insecticides,
weed killers, sure irrigation and agricultural machines are needed. It falls Agricultural production is not
possible in the absence of any one of these. China is the only country where agriculture is done in the
true sense. There, such measures have been taken to maintain the fertility of the soil, due to which the
soil always gives agricultural production, whereas in India, agriculture is done from the soil, while getting
the production, no attention is focused on which nutrients are available in it. There is a lack of element
or which nutrient will be reduced by cultivating a certain crop. Indian farmers use chemical fertilizers
indiscriminately. The result is that the fertility of the agricultural land keeps decreasing and chemical
fertilizers have to be used in large quantities to get the next crop. As a result, the cost of agricultural
produce increases. is slowly decreasing.

Weaknesses of Green Revolution The Green Revolution started in the 1960s is successful only in those
areas of India where assured irrigation facilities have been made available. Punjab, Haryana and
Western Uttar Pradesh are fortunate from this point of view. The most harmful aspect of the Green
Revolution has been that important nutrients like zinc, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium,
molybdenum, boron are disappearing from the fertile soil. Take, for example, the Ludhiana district of
Punjab. This district became famous for high yield, but there is a huge shortage of these micronutrients
in the fields. These nutrients play an important role in the growth of agricultural plants. With the help
of zinc, plants take up nitrogen and phosphorus. Iron element is helpful in handling and synthesis of
chlorophyll in the leaves.

Apart from major fertilizers like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N+P+K), farmers of Punjab have
started using zinc fertilizers. Studies have shown that applying 100 kg of N+P+K (50:25:25) ratio reduces
629 grams of zinc and 433 grams of copper per hectare. There is deficiency of iron and manganese
when zinc is used in the soil. Iron deficiency is the biggest hindrance to crop production after zinc. This
information has been received from the reports of Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Gujarat, Bihar and Tamil Nadu.
Due to lack of nutrients, the quality of the food grains grown also decreases. This adversely affects
human health. Zinc deficiency in the diet has a wide range of effects. Due to this, there are problems
like decrease in growth of the body, time taken for healing of wounds and inability to digest
carbohydrates. Zinc deficiency has been observed in patients with diabetes and diabetic ulcers. The
effect of zinc deficiency on the health of animals has also been observed. Due to this, the development
of the animal's body slows down and defects arise in the bones and joints.

The quality of wheat, maize and paddy increases by using zinc fertilizers. Due to this, there is an
increase in crude protein and carbohydrate and other energy elements. Boron, a nutrient found in fruits
and vegetables, enhances memory.

Large-scale use of underground water and depleting water table- With the beginning of Green
Revolution, private tube wells started exploiting underground water rapidly as some growing seeds
needed irrigation at regular intervals. B. D. Dhawan writes in his book Development of Tubewell
Irrigation in India that the number of private tubewells installed annually in the 70s was equal to the
number of open plain wells across the country dug every year during the same period. These were a
hundred more than the number of public tube wells.

Irrigation through tube wells increased rapidly in the water abundant areas of the country. Private
tubewells were under the control of individual farmers, while the responsibility of giving water in canal
irrigation is in the hands of officials who do not work properly and are also corrupt. If we look at the
distribution of tube wells, their concentration is visible in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and
West Bengal. Installation of tube wells in these states is relatively less expensive. The result of
excessive use of underground water in irrigation was that the water table in most of the tube wells has
slipped down. States like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra etc. are badly affected
by this problem.

"Overuse of groundwater for irrigation is a curse," says Nalini Ghar Jayal, former advisor to the Planning
Commission. The consequences of over-exploitation of groundwater for water-intensive crops are
becoming visible in Maharashtra. There is a shortage of drinking water and food grains here. Here the
number of villages with problem of groundwater depletion has increased rapidly (which was 17,000 in
1980 and increased to 23,000 in 1983).

A method of rain water harvesting has been suggested recently in India. It has been named Roof Top
Rain Water Harvesting. Here in the low rainfall Thar desert, very effective measures have been used to
store rain water in almost every house in every village. There, such pools and ponds have been made in
the houses which collect every drop of water that rains on the roof, courtyard and public land of the
house and store it very cleanly for the whole year's need.
In the race of development in India, the ponds which increase the underground water reserves are
gradually losing their existence. They have been bridged and converted into agricultural land. This is an
unwise move from an ecological point of view.

The use of pesticides and weedicides has increased rapidly in Indian agriculture. The farming
community and other living beings cannot escape from their bad effects. Farmers are often seen
spraying pesticides in the fields without wearing masks, gloves and shoes, due to which they become ill
from these toxic medicines. Vegetables, fruits, leaves also become fatal by the use of these pesticides.
The effect of pesticides can also be seen on food items like meat, milk, eggs etc. Some chemicals can
cause cancer disease in the human body by chemical reaction.

When insecticides and weed killers mix with rain water and mix with clean water, then the stores of
clean water also get contaminated. This adversely affects the biological oxygen demand (BOD). Birds
like vultures, eagles have become endangered due to the side effects of pesticides.

Another weakness of the Green Revolution can be seen in those areas where monoculture is practiced.
By doing this, the pH value of the soil is continuously increasing. The pH value has crossed 9.0 in some
areas. Increasing alkalinity in soil is the result of increasing pH value. When the pH value becomes 9 or
more, no more production can be obtained from it. The neutral pH value is considered to be 7.0. Food
production becomes difficult in alkaline soil of 9 pH value. Due to monoculture, a large number of soil
bacteria diffuse elsewhere and many species of micro-organisms become extinct.

In this way, the side effects of Green Revolution are manifested in the form of reduction in the natural
fertility of the land, marshy and barren land, dissolution of the underground water table, loss of seed
diversity, poisoning of food items and degradation of the environment. It has started happening. This is
due to the uncontrolled and thoughtless use of irrigation, chemical fertilizers, hybrid seeds, pesticides
etc. and their nature. If this process of using and increasing these elements continues, then in the near
future the basis of agricultural development can create the basis of agricultural destruction. That's why
it is now being said. That this green revolution is killing the hen (soil) that lays the golden egg.
Motivated by such apprehension, environmentalists and agricultural scientists have become conscious
to search for their alternatives so that agriculture can be developed without any hindrance without
disturbing the agricultural ecology.
Environmental consequences of agricultural development

There are many environmental side effects of modern agricultural development and green revolution.
Basis of Green Revolution Various crop species are fast disappearing as a result of rapid increase in the
use of hybrid seeds of advanced variety. Therefore, due to erosion of seed diversity, agriculture is
becoming dependent on a few selected improved varieties. Due to the variation of geographical
conditions in different regions in India, the method of seeds is necessary because wheat, rice or pulses
of the same species cannot survive in front of the changing nature of the weather, the attack of insects
and the diseases of the crops. That is why Indian farmers had adopted thousands of varieties of seeds
grown under different conditions for thousands of years. Hybrid seeds have very less ability to fight
against pests, diseases, diseases, weather extremes and weeds. The inevitability of chemical fertilizers is
associated with the success of hybrid seeds. The World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has
warned that if the seed diversity of the third world nations is destroyed, then there will be no way to
preserve the germplasm of the seeds. . This simply means the worldwide crisis of food grains.

There has been a sudden increase in agricultural production by the use of hybrid seeds, but without
chemical fertilizers, assured irrigation and pesticides these seeds are useless. Therefore, along with the
increase in the use of these hybrid seeds, there was a substantial increase in the use of these essential
elements, which started the second series of agro-ecology breakdown and environmental degradation.
For the expansion of irrigation facility, big dams were being built on the rivers. Due to the decrease in
the volume of river water due to the dams, its self-purifying capacity decreased and the situation of
water pollution became more critical. Water logging has started increasing in canal irrigated areas and
there has been inactivity in soil bacteria. Due to the accumulation of soluble salts on the upper surface
of the land, the land is turning into desert. On the contrary, where there is predominance of tube wells,
there has arisen a danger of further lowering of the underground water level. The underground water
table in Punjab-Haryana has receded by more than 30 feet. In the coastal parts of Gujarat and Tamil
Nadu, the saline water of the sea is entering the ground due to the lowering of the ground water level.
Due to the irrigation done with such water, the agricultural land is becoming saline. In irrigated areas,
pulses with minimal irrigation are being phased out of the crop cycle, while pulses have an important
role in increasing nitrogen nutrients in the soil.

The use of pesticides in agriculture has also increased rapidly with hybrid seeds. Due to this the
environment has become more polluted. Here D.D.T., B.H.C., Methyl Parathion, Die Aldrin, etc. are
widely used to protect agricultural crops from insects. These pesticides do not get destroyed naturally.
These reach the human body through food grains and get stored in fat, due to which many types of fatal
diseases arise. Only 1% of the use of insecticides is used for pest control. Whereas 99% enters into
various environmental systems due to which the environment is getting polluted day by day. Only 40%
of the quantity used of chemical fertilizers is absorbed by the plants, the rest gets mixed in the
environment, due to which the problem of pollution of surface water as well as 'underground water' has
also started appearing.
(Need of Big Dams)

More than 36000 big dams have been built since 1950 in all the big countries of the world. Of the 109
rivers in Japan, dams have been built on all but one. After getting independence in India, 7 big dams
Maithan, Balpahari, Tilaiya, Panchet Pahadi, Iyer, Bokaro and Konar have been built in Damodar Valley
Project. Here Bhakra Nagal, Thein (Punjab), Hirakud (Orissa), Gandhisagar (Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan),
Vyas Dam (Punjab-Haryana), Pog Dam (Himachal Pradesh), Gandak Project, Kosi Project (Bihar-Nepal),
Kakrapar, Ukai, Sardar Sarovar (Gujarat), Krishna Project, Mahi Project (Gujarat-Rajasthan), Mayurakshi
(West Bengal), Nagarjuna Sagar (Andhra Pradesh), Ramganga Project (Uttar Pradesh), Tawa Project,
Narmada Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand), Nathpa Jhakri. (Himachal Pradesh), Salal
(Jammu-Kashmir), Farakka (West Bengal), Tungabhadra (Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh), Almatti Dam
(Karnataka), Koyna (Maharashtra), Rihand and Mata Tila Dam (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) etc.
Is. Presently there are 4291 big dams in India.

The first Prime Minister of India Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called the Bhakra Nangal Dam built in the
country as a temple of the new age. About 700 dams were built in India after independence. There is
not a single river left in the country whose flow has not been blocked. In South India, the water of
Kaveri river has been fully exploited. The Krishna and Godavari rivers have been tied up by the dams
built at Tungabhadra, Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar, Mula, Jayakwadi etc. Other rivers will soon be linked
by dams like Inchampally and Polavaram. The work of building dams is in progress at many places in the
Narmada valley. Here Sardar Sarovar and Narmada Sagar (new name Indira Sagar) dams have been
more controversial. Narmada river is the oldest river of the country. 10 big dams, 20 big dams, 300
medium dams and 3000 small dams will be built on its main stream. Altogether, 1312 km long Narmada
will be linked step by step for electricity and irrigation. Obviously, a large amount of water is collected
by the construction of dams and it is used as irrigation as per the requirement. This has made it possible
to increase agricultural production in drought-prone areas. We get the following benefits from the
construction of dams-

(1) Increase in agricultural production has become possible due to availability of irrigation facility.

(2) A large number of employment opportunities were created. (3) Help has been given in flood
control. Is.

(4) It has been possible to deal with the disaster of drought and famine. (5) Hydroelectric power
generation has become possible. This led to rapid industrialization.

(6) The supply of drinking water has been ensured. (7) Fisheries development has become possible.
(8) Soil erosion has been controlled. (9) There has been an increase in the ground water table.

(10) The possibilities of development of tourism have increased due to the construction of artificial
lakes.

(11) Aquatic animals of rare species have got conservation sites.

(12) It has also helped in the development of water transport.

Although dams are built for profit, but there are some disadvantages as well. The biggest loss is
environmental damage. That's why the construction of big dams is plagued by controversies.

Problems caused by the construction of dams

Some of the major ones are as follows-

(1) The problem of rehabilitation/displacement- The problem of rehabilitation/displacement of the

population coming in the submergence area due to the construction of big dams is a serious problem.
For example, the construction of the Tehri Dam has displaced 112 villages, 40 villages completely and 72
villages partially, and the submergence of the old Tehri city has led to the displacement of about 1 lakh
people. They have been settled in Bhaniawala, Raiwala of Dehradun district and Pathri area of Haridwar
district. There is also the problem of rehabilitating the displaced people affected by the construction of
the dam. For example, the displaced people of Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh were resettled in
Anupgarh, Rajasthan bordering Pakistan. Although that land comes in the command area of Rajasthan
Canal, it has proved difficult for the people used to hill agriculture to settle in the harsh desert area.

What happened is that due to the construction of Inchampalli and Bhopalpatnam dams in Maharashtra,
forest dwellers Marathi people are being resettled away from their forests in unfamiliar Marathi
speaking areas. In the words of Baba Amte, it is to destroy that caste itself. Many voluntary
organizations are engaged in the rehabilitation work of the people displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam
of Narmada in Gujarat. Activists of Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Vahini are going from village to village giving
information regarding compensation and rehabilitation to the people and preparing them to fight
against corruption and get facilities as per the decision of Narmada Tribunal. All the farmers who were
left in the premises of Sivasagar reservoir near Koyna (Pune) are scattered everywhere today. They have
no means of survival other than growing a little paddy.
(2) The problem of forest destruction- Due to the construction of dams, forests of a wide area come
under submergence. For example, in the Tehri dam project, a total area of 36,000 hectares of forests
came under submergence. Along with cutting the trees of the forests coming in the submergence area,
the trees of the forests which do not come in the submergence are also cut. Forests are also cut for
rehabilitation. The forests of Haridwar and Rishikesh have been cleared to settle the displaced people of
old Tehri city of Garhwal. Forests are also cut for the roads leading to the dam, for office and residential
buildings and storehouses for construction materials. Due to the Idukki dam on the Periyar river in
Kerala, 49 lakh hectares of forests have been destroyed. A provision of Rs 10 crore has been made for
planting new forests in Tehri, but this cannot compensate for the drowning forests.

(3) Submergence of agricultural land and pastures- Due to the construction of dams, agricultural land
and pastures of a wide area get submerged. A total of 55,681 hectares of agricultural land and pastures
will be submerged by the Sardar Sarovar and Narmada Sagar dams.

(4) Probability of earthquake in the dam area: In view of geological structure, new and weak
mountainous sites and construction of large dams in areas prone to seismic activity increase the
possibility of earthquakes. Due to this, there is a possibility of excessive destruction. The collapse of
dams during an earthquake can cause widespread devastation. The huge amount of water stored in the
reservoirs and the water pressure increases the possibility of earthquakes. The earthquake near Koyna
Dam in Maharashtra in 1967 confirms this. Prof. Khadag Singh Valdiya, an expert in Himalayan geology,
is of the opinion that the Tehri dam area is not seismically safe. A heavy earthquake can happen here
any time and the Tehri dam can collapse. The Nurek Dam in Russia and the Viont Dam in Italy have
collapsed due to earthquakes. Environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna believes that the Tehri dam (260.5
m high) should not be constructed in the seismically vulnerable Himalayan region because the dam will
burst in case of a strong earthquake, due to which the water of the Tehri reservoir will flow at a speed of
100 km per hour. will start flowing. As a result, the cities of Rishikesh and Haridwar will be completely
destroyed by being submerged in 200 feet deep water in 57 and 69 minutes respectively. This water can
spread till Meerut and Ghaziabad. Meerut may be submerged by 7-8 meters deep water.

(5) Damage to natural habitats due to dam construction Natural habitats are destroyed by construction
of dams. As a result, a crisis arises for the existence of wild animals.

(6) Disruption of ecological balance-Due to the change in flora and fauna due to the increase in water
and humidity due to the construction of dams, the ecological balance becomes disorganized.

(7) Changes in climatic conditions and fear of diseases- Due to the huge amount of water accumulated
in the dams, due to the change in the climatic conditions of the nearby area, the possibility of
developing many diseases in humans and cattle increases. Prominent among these are malaria, allergy,
rift valley fever, diarrhoea, schistosomiasis etc.
(8) Damage to the environment due to increase in human activities at new sites- Degradation of
environment starts due to increase of human activities at new sites selected for dam rehabilitation. (9)
Fear of drying up of rivers Due to the construction of huge dams in the upper valley of the rivers, the
possibility of drying up of the rivers becomes stronger due to non-availability of water in the lower
valley. Due to this the existence of rivers is in danger. The existence of Bhagirathi river is in danger due
to the construction of Tehri Dam.

(10) The problem of silt filling in the bottom of dams due to landslides and soil erosion - It is often seen
that due to landslides and soil erosion, a large amount of silt gets accumulated in the beds of dams. Due
to this, the recovered soil does not reach the plains. Siltation also reduces the life of water bodies. The
life of Tehri Reservoir is likely to be reduced by about 40 years due to heavy accumulation of silt in the
reservoir of Tehri Dam. Former director of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Prof. S.P. Nautiyal
considers the lifetime of Tehri reservoir to be only 30-40 years. not 100 years.

(11) The problem of alkalization- There is more wastage of water under the flow irrigation system in the
areas near the dams. Due to this, more water spreads on the ground surface than necessary. As a
result, the amount of alkali in the soil starts increasing. Due to the Sardar Sarovar Project, cotton
cultivation in Vadodara and Bharuch districts has suffered heavy losses. Under this project, efforts are
on to reduce alkalization caused by canal irrigation.

(12) The existence of cities and villages ends forever- Due to the construction of dams, the existence of
many villages and cities ends forever. For example, 23 villages and old Tehri town under Tehri reservoir
have been completely submerged. Although the new Tehri city has definitely been established, but the
socio-cultural aspects have not been taken care of there. Harsud Nagar (Madhya Pradesh) has been
submerged due to the construction of Narmada Sagar Dam.
(Meaning of Green House Effect)

In cold countries, sunlight is received less in winter, which is not sufficient for the natural growth of
trees and plants. That's why green glass houses are made for the collection of sunlight in cold regions.
In these, the visible sunlight enters the glass house but the long wave infrared rays cannot come out. As
a result, heat gets accumulated in the green house, in which green vegetables and fruits are easily
grown. It is called green house effect in general sense, but in the context of rising temperature of the
earth's surface or global warming, the meaning of green house effect is the progressive warming of the
earth's surface due to the blanketing effect created by man-made carbon dioxide emissions in the
atmosphere. Heat rise.

According to the Oxford dictionary, "The green house effect is the progressive warming of the Earth's
surface due to the enveloping effect of human-generated carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." In the
context of Earth, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor behave like a glass house. These do not obstruct
the solar radiation from reaching the earth's surface, but absorb the outgoing long wavelengths,
especially the infrared rays, from the earth's surface and return them back to the earth's surface, due to
which the earth's surface It gets hot continuously. D. B. Botkin and E. A. Keller told in 1982 about the
green house effect that soil and plants absorb insolation due to which they also get the opportunity to
reflect infrared rays. and the temperature inside the greenhouse/glass house is higher than that of the
outside environment. Among green house gases, carbon dioxide, halogens, chloro fluoro carbon (CFC)
and water vapor are particularly important. These gases are often transparent for solar radiation waves,
due to which the solar radiation reaches the earth's surface without any hindrance, but these gases
absorb the radiation coming from the earth and the earth's surface and its right side. heats the
atmosphere above. Thus green house gases act as a blanket for the earth.

Main Sources of Green House Gases (GHG) – The most important of the greenhouse gases is carbon
dioxide (CO2) which is released into the atmosphere by the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum
and natural gas). . This increases the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. For the production of
electricity, man has burnt a large amount of coal and mineral oil in the power houses. As a result, the
CO released from the power plants keeps on reaching the atmosphere. Similarly, a huge quantity of coal
and mineral oil is burnt daily in different types of factories and the chimneys of the factories
continuously release CO2. The chimneys of the factories have been given the name of Human Volcano.
Another major source of greenhouse gases are automatic vehicles, aircraft and diesel-powered
agricultural machinery. Trucks, buses, motorcars, scooters, motorcycles, trains, airplanes flying in the
air, diesel-powered generators, pumping sets, tractors, combine harvesters, machines used in road
construction, etc., emit a large amount of CO every year. , release them and keep sending them to the
atmosphere. Apart from this, wood is burnt for cooking in developing countries, due to which CO2 gets
released and reaches the atmosphere.
 Halogenates (chloro fluoro carbons and halones) are included in the secondary green house gases.
These gases are released into the atmosphere during the use of refrigerators, air conditioners, fire
fighting equipments, cosmetics, plastics, foams etc.

It has been estimated that 90 to 180 billion tons of carbon reaches the atmosphere every year due to
deforestation, while 150 to 180 billion tons of carbon is released into the atmosphere by the
combustion of mineral oil and coal.

Scientists have said that between 1860 and 1980 the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has
increased to 350-360 ppm. Thus, between 1860 and 1980, there has been an increase of 25% in
atmospheric CO2. This massive increase in CO2 has come from man-made sources only. The
contribution of developed countries is more in this growth. Till 1950, the contribution of developing
countries was negligible. Because the pace of industrialization was very slow in these countries. By
1950, the highly developed industrial countries—the United States of America, the Russian Federation,
Great Britain, France, Japan, etc., emitted the most CO2. In 1950, the United States alone emitted 42%
of all world emissions of CO₂.

Between 1950 and 1986, the rate of industrialization in developing countries increased, and the burning
of fossil fuels also accelerated. As a result, developing countries, especially China and India, started
contributing more to carbon emissions. In 1986, China came third, India seventh, Japan fourth and
South Korea 20th in carbon emissions. According to an estimate, the United States of America is still on
top in carbon emissions, which emits 5 tons of carbon per person per year into the atmosphere, while
the rate of carbon emissions in India has been recorded at 0.2 tons per person per year. At the regional
level, CO2 emissions are increasing rapidly in most Asian and Latin American countries, including China.
In 1988, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This organization assesses
the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth every 04 years. Keeps on presenting its report regarding.

The current chairman of the IPCC under the United Nations is Rajendra Kumar Pachauri (an Indian).
According to IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report-2007, atmospheric CO2 has increased from 278 PPM in
almost a century before the Industrial Revolution to 379 PPM in 2005. Due to this, there has been an
increase of 0.74 degree in global temperature. It is estimated that the accelerated growth will continue
even faster. According to a study by the World Resources Institute, the concentration of CO2 in
atmospheric greenhouse gases has increased rapidly since 1945. A total of 44153 million metric tons of
CO was being released in 2005. In the period 2000 to 2005 alone, global CO2 emissions have increased
by 12.7% and the annual average has been 2.4%. The contribution of 77% in green house gases is of
CO2 alone, 15% of Methane and 7% of Nitrous Oxide. North America contributed 18%, China 16% and
Europe (EU) 12% of world emissions of greenhouse gases in the year 2005, while India's contribution
was only 4%.
Consequences of green house effect – Consequences of global warming

visible in the form of climate change. Due to increase in global temperature, continental and mountain
glaciers and Arctic and Antarctic ice caps will melt, due to which the sea level will rise. Due to the rise in
sea level, the low-lying areas along the coast will be submerged in sea water. It has been estimated that
by the year 2050 there will be an increase of 1 meter in the sea level. As a result, a large part of the
Delta region of Bangladesh will be submerged and about 80 lakh to 10 million people will be deprived of
their agricultural areas and homes.

Similarly, in Egypt, the agricultural areas on the banks of the Rum Sea will be submerged and 15% of
Mitra's agricultural area will be destroyed. Similarly, the low-lying land areas of many countries along
the sea coast can get absorbed in the sea. vv. Due to the increase in global temperature, there will be a
decrease in the amount of moisture in the rain and soil, due to which there will be a huge adverse effect
on agriculture in the most developed agricultural regions of the world. Plants, animals and insects will
find it difficult to adjust with the changed environmental conditions due to increase in temperature,
which will cause huge damage to the ecosystems. Due to change in climate, some plants will grow
rapidly, some areas will become completely unfit for agriculture, while the possibilities of agriculture can
increase in some new areas.

Due to lack of water in the rivers, the irrigation system will be disorganized. With the existence of
glaciers in danger, the rivers will dry up and their continuous channel nature will end. There will also be
adverse effects on coastal areas, forests, agriculture and human health.

The side effects of global warming will be seen in the form of an increase in plant production in some
areas and a decrease in some areas. Global warming will also adversely affect atmospheric wind
circulation. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has clarified in its study that 2005 has been
the hottest year ever recorded. There were 27 tropical cyclones this year, which is the highest number
of cyclones in a single year so far. Of these, 14 cyclones were of hurricane intensity. Hurricane Wilma
devastated Florida and Hurricane Katrina (August 2005) devastated the city of New Orleans. The
frequency and intensity of other weather events, such as cold wave and heat waves, will also increase.
The present world pattern of rainfall will also change. By the year 2040, due to rising global
temperature, major rivers in India will dry up because the supply of snowmelt water will stop due to the
extinction of glaciers. Due to global warming in future, the annual rainy days may decrease by 15 days
in most of the regions of India. There is a possibility of an increase in temperature by 20-40 degree by
2040 AD from the level of 1994. Monsoon rains have increased by 10-12% over India's west coast,
north-west region and northern Andhra Pradesh, while parts of Madhya Pradesh and its neighboring
regions, north-eastern states, Gujarat and Kerala 6-8% less rainfall has been recorded.
(Meaning of Ozone Depletion)

A layer of ozone gas is found in the atmosphere at a height of 15 to 60 kilometers, which is called
Ozonosphere or Ozone Circle. The highest concentration of ozone gas is found in the atmosphere at an
altitude of 12 to 35 km. Ozone (O) is a gas made up of three atoms of oxygen. It is a light blue colored
gas which has a pungent odor and remains present in the atmosphere in the form of an unstable gas
instead of being stable. Its disintegration and destruction also keep on happening. The main feature of
ozone gas is that it absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and prevents them from
reaching the earth's surface. As a result, the ozone layer protects the surface from overheating. In the
absence of ozone, the biosphere (plants, animals and humans) cannot be possible on the earth. That's
why the ozone layer is called the umbrella or protective shield of the earth. The ozone layer filters the
incoming solar radiation and allows it to reach the earth's surface. When there is any kind of change in
the balanced level of ozone layer, then the living beings of the biosphere are directly affected by it. For
the past few decades, humans have released ozone-destroying chemicals into the atmosphere. Chloro
fluoro carbon (CFC) is the main among them. Due to these, there has been rapid depletion in the
atmospheric ozone. Since 1967, on the basis of man-made satellites, the information regarding ozone
has become clear that ozone is rapidly depleting. Data obtained from Russia's Nimbus-3 and Nimbus-4
satellites and Explorer-5 and Tyros-IV have shown that the level of the ozone layer is fluctuating. In the
decade of 1960-70, there has been a huge decrease in the amount of ozone. The main reasons for this
have been attributed to the nuclear explosions done by the developed countries of the world, especially
Russia, USA, France etc. After the revelation of this fact, due to the ban on nuclear tests, it has become
possible to return to the original level of ozone in the atmosphere.

In the year 1985, there was a direct evidence of the depletion of ozone in the atmosphere over
Antarctica. There, the British Antarctic Survey team under the leadership of Joseph Farman recorded a
50% drop in the natural concentration of ozone between 15 August 1987 and 7 October 1987, and
observed a decrease of up to 100% in some areas. The ozone layer was found completely missing.
There, small ozone-less patches were formed, which were given the name of ozone hole. Its size was
equal to the continent of North America.

As soon as information was received regarding depletion of ozone layer and formation of ozone hole,
there was panic in the scientific world. The threats arising out of this are giving sleepless nights to the
developed countries. In 1998, NASA scientists told the size of the hole found in ozone to be 19 million
square km, which is more than twice the area of China.

Main cause of ozone layer depletion - The main reason for ozone layer depletion is the use of Chloro
Fluoro Carbons (CFC) by humans. When these chemicals enter the stratosphere of the atmosphere,
they react with the ultraviolet rays of the sun to generate chlorine-free radicals. These chlorine free
radicals react with ozone and convert it into oxygen gas. As a result, ozone continuously changes into
oxygen. One chlorine free radical destroys one lakh ozone molecules and then goes somewhere
inactive. It is estimated that by now 5 to 10 percent of the ozone layer has been eroded.

Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion on the Earth - Due to the depletion of the ozone layer, there will be a
continuous increase in the amount of ultraviolet rays coming to the Earth, due to which the Earth's
biosphere will be badly affected, especially humans will start suffering from skin diseases (skin cancer).
According to an estimate, for every 2.5 percent ozone layer depletion, the number of 4 lakh 80 thousand
cancer patients will be generated.

Ozone depletion will have a direct effect on the Earth's climate, due to which the temperature of the
surface will increase, which will cause many types of climatic changes. As a result of increase in
temperature, biosphere ecosystems can be destroyed.

Effect of ozone depletion on climate Ozone depletion will lead to minimum absorption of solar
ultraviolet radiation in the atmosphere, due to which the surface temperature will increase. It has been
estimated that due to ozone depletion and destruction, there will be an increase of 5 to 20% in the
ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface in the next 40 years, which will cause global warming,
due to which there will be changes in the climate at the regional and world levels. . Glaciers and ice
sheets of Antarctica will liquefy and sea level will rise. As a result, low-lying coastal areas will be
submerged. Due to the deficiency of ozone in the stratosphere, there will be an increase in hydrogen
peroxide in the troposphere, due to which acid rain will appear. Due to depletion of ozone and increase
in ultraviolet radiation, photochemical processes will increase due to which toxic smog will be formed.

Effect of ozone depletion on human community Due to increase in temperature on the surface due to
ozone depletion, the incidence of skin cancer will increase in people with fair skin. According to an
estimate, 1 lakh 20 thousand people will be victims of skin cancer every year in the United States alone.
There will be a decrease in immunity in the body of people. The outbreak of infectious and contagious
diseases will increase. Due to excessive increase in temperature, the physical and mental development
of the people in the equatorial regions will be stunted. Due to the generation of poisonous smoke fog,
there will be a bad effect on the human lungs and the physical strength will decrease. Most of the crops
will be destroyed, most of the fish will die in the oceans and food crisis will arise.

Ecological effect of ozone depletion - As a result of increase in temperature, there will be more
evaporation of soil moisture. Crops will start drying up and there will be a huge reduction in the
production of crops. Due to increase in temperature, there will be drastic changes in the marine
ecosystem. Due to this, sea creatures can become victims of starvation and most of the fish will die.
The huge decrease in the number of fish will have a direct impact on the human settlements along the
sea coast. Fishes are the main food of the sea coast residents. Due to global warming, the color of
ocean corals turns white. This process is called Coral Bleaching. This leads to his death.
 Changes in temperature will affect the processes of evaporation and precipitation. Somewhere there
will be an increase in them and somewhere there will be a decrease due to which the water cycle will be
affected. When the water cycle is affected, changes will also occur in the large-scale bio-geochemical
cycle in the biosphere, due to which the productivity of the ecosystem will decrease due to disturbance
in the circulation of nutrients in the biological components of the biospheric ecosystem. Changes in the
thermal conditions of the atmosphere will affect the type, density and stability of vegetation.

Measures taken to protect the ozone layer

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated every year on 16 September to
protect the ozone layer. Today the world community is trying to protect the ozone layer in two ways-

Efforts to reduce the production and consumption of ozone-destroying chemicals (CFCs), (II) Efforts to
produce such alternative chemicals in place of ozone-destroying chemicals whose consumption does not
adversely affect the ozone layer. Scientists believe that reduction in the depletion of ozone and
reduction in the production and consumption of chemical compounds that destroy it, chlorine, fluorine,
carbon and halon, is possible only through international cooperation. The first international effort in
this direction was made in 1987 when 35 countries of the world signed the Montreal Protocol (in
September 1987) to reduce the production and consumption of ozone-destroying elements. Under this
protocol, developing countries were exempted from 50% reduction in the production of CFCs and
Halons until 1998, but developing countries could not consume more than 0.3 kg of these chemicals per
person per year. In developed countries, 1987 The consumption of these chemicals in India is 1.0 to 1.2
kg per person per year.

If the world's eight major developing countries China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia
and South Korea do not comply with the terms of the Montreal Protocol, by 2009 only 15 to 30% of the
world's consumption of CFC and Halon Only decline would have come. Proponents of the Montreal
Protocol believe that if all the provisions of this protocol are followed in letter and spirit, only 2% of the
current level (1987) of ozone will be depleted by 2075 AD. On the advice of the United Nations, a three-
day international conference was organized in London on March 05-07, 1989, in which scientists and
industrialists from more than 150 countries discussed ways and means to protect the ozone layer. In
this conference, it was agreed to limit the production of chlorofluorocarbons that deplete the ozone
layer. The London conference is known as 'Save Ozone Layer'. Developed countries were to cut
production of CFCs by 20% by the end of 1993 and by 1998 by an additional 30% (a total of 50%). Thus,
in early 1999 a 50% reduction in gross production of ozone depleting chemicals was proposed.
Search for alternative technology and substitute chemicals - In order to protect the ozone layer, the
world community is trying to develop such a technology that substitutes or substitutes for CFCs are such
that they do not deplete the ozone layer and prevent the leakage of these chemicals. Can go An oil
company of USA has developed Bioact EC-7 which can be decomposed by microdisintegrators which is
neither toxic nor corrosive. The trademark for this newly developed chemical is HFC-1349. It can be
used in place of Kryon 12 in refrigerators and air conditioners. It is a chlorine free chemical. A new
chemical called CFC-22 has been developed in the United States which is actually
monochlorofluoromethane. Some scientists think that if an extra hydrogen molecule is added to CFCs,
this chemical can be used in air conditioners without harm. In industrialized countries, the search is on
for such chlorine-free chemicals that can be used in refrigerators, but they do not have an adverse effect
on ozone.

The 11th Conference on Prevention of Ozone Layer Depletion was held on 3 December 1999 in Beijing,
the capital of China. In this, India reiterated its commitment to cut the amount of CFCs in half by 2005.
In fact, since 2000 when the Montreal Protocol came into force, ozone depletion and depletion have
been fluctuating.