Part 3 of Module 1 Notes of Environmental Studies

Module 1
Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-renewable resources

Introduction To Natural Resources

 Natural resources are materials provided by the earth that humans can use to make more
complex (human-made) products.

 Natural resources are useful raw material that we get from the earth. They occur
naturally, which means that humans cannot make natural resources. Instead we use and
modify natural resources in ways that are beneficial to us.

Classification of Resources
 Renewable Resources (Flow resources):

The resources which can be renewed along with their exploitation and can be always available
for use are known as renewable resources. Ex – forests, air, solar energy.

 Non- renewable resources (Stock resource):

These resources which are present in finite quantities and cannot be renewed along with their
exploitation are known as non-renewable resources. EX – coal, minerals, fossil fuels.

 Cyclic Resources:

These resources which can be used again and again passing through some process are know as
cyclic resources.

Ex – Water.

Land Resources
Meaning of Land Resources

Land is naturally occurring finite source.

 It provides base for survival of living beings.

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 It holds everything that constitutes terrestrial ecosystems.

 Increased demand on land in modern times due to the rise in human population and
resultant activities has resulted in degradation of land quality and quantity, decline in
crop production and competition for land.

Land Use

 It is characterized by the arrangements, activities and inputs by people to produce change

or maintain a certain land cover type.

 The results of human activities, reflected by changes in vegetative cover or by structures,

are also regarded as features of the land.

 Land or soil is the uppermost part of the earth’s surface is used for the production of
crops and other biological materials needed for food fodder, medicine, etc.

Land Degradation

 It can be defined as any changes in the land that reduces its condition or quality and
hence its productivity or productive potential.

 It occurs whenever the natural balances in the landscape are changed by human activity,
through misuse or overuse

 Land degradations means

 Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss of nutrients.

 Less vegetation cover.

 Changes in the characteristic of soil.

 Pollution of water resources from the contamination of soil through which water sweeps
into ground or runoff to the water bodies.

 Changes in climatic conditions because of unbalance created in the environment.

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Causes of Land Degradation

 Deforestation: Deforestation is taking place at a faster rate due to increasing demand of
timber, fuel and forest products which results into degradation

 Overgrazing: It refers to excessive eating of grasses and other green plants by cattle. It
results in to reduced growth of vegetation, reduced diversity of plant species, soil erosion.

 Agricultural Practice: Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides have adversely

degraded the natural quality and fertility of the land.

 Industrialization: development of industries for economic growth of the country leads to

excessive deforestation and utilization of land in such a way that it has lost its natural up
gradation quality

 Urbanization: Increasing growth of population and demand for more residential areas
and commercial sectors is also one of the reasons for land degradation.

Prevention and Control Measures of Land Degradation

 Strip Farming: It is and practice in which cultivated crops are sown in alternative strips
to prevent water movement.

 Crop Rotation: It is one of the agricultural practice in which different crops are grown in
same area following a rotation system which helps in replenishment of the soil.

 Ridge and Furrow Formation: soil erosion is one of the factors responsible for land
degradation. It can be prevented by formation of ridge and furrow during irrigation which
lessens runoff.

 Construction of dams: This usually checks or reduces the velocity of runoff so that soil
support vegetation.

 Contour Farming: This type of farming is usually across the hill side and is useful in
collecting and diverting the runoff to avoid erosion.

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Soil Erosion

 When the grasses are removed the soil becomes loose and gets eroded by the action of
wind and rain fall.

 Deforestation thus leads to rapid soil erosion. Soil is washed into streams and is
transported into rivers and finally lost to the sea.

 The process is more evident in areas where deforestation has led to erosion on steep hill
slopes as in the Himalayas and in western Ghats.

Factors Influencing Soil Erosion

 Energy Group: This includes the potential ability of rainfall, runoff and wind to cause
erosion. This ability is termed as erosivity. It includes those factors which directly affect
the power of the erosive agents.

 Resistance Group: The resistance group includes credibility of the soil which depends
upon its mechanical and chemical properties. Factors which encourage the infiltration of
water into soil and thereby reduce runoff and decrease erodibility.

 Protection Group: It focuses on factors relating to the plant cover. By intercepting

rainfall and reducing the velocity of runoff and wind, a plant cover protects the soil from
erosion. Different plant covers afford different degrees of protection.

Effects of Soil Erosion

 Surface Runoff: Top soil is removed, bedrock exposed and the land entrenched by
gullies.

 Deposition and clogging: Ground is covered with sand and silt deposits; ditches and
canals are clogged with sediment and reservoirs silt up.

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 Reduction in Productivity: As a result of erosion there is deterioration in quality of

cropping and grazing land which brings about reduced productivity and increased
expenditure on fertilizers to maintain fertility.

 Barren Land: In extreme case yield becomes so poor that land has to be taken out of
cultivation

 Pollutant: Siltation of rivers reduces their capacity, creating flood hazard and the
sediment is a major pollutant, lowering water quality.

Types of soil Erosion

 Rain splash erosion: The erosion due to the impact of falling raindrops on soil surface
leading to the destruction of the crumb structure is known as the raindrop or splash
erosion.

 Gully Erosion: Gully erosion occurs due to the runoff of surface water causing the
removal of soil with drainage lines. Gullies when started once, will move by headward
erosion or even by slumping of side walls unless and un-till proper steps will be taken in
order to stabilize the disturbance.

 Rill Erosion: Rill erosion is a form of water erosion in which the erosion takes places
through numerous narrow and more or not so straight channels called streamlets, or head
cuts. Rill is the most common form of erosion, which you can also observe during heavy
rain.

 Overland Flow: It occurs on a hill side during a rainstorm or prolonged rain or with
intense rain by which there are surface depression storages or small soil storages when
the infiltration capacity of the soil exceeded.

 Surface Flow: The lateral movement of water down slope through the upper layers of the
soil is called subsurface.

 Wind Erosion: The erosion of soil particles by wind is effected by the application of a
sufficiently large force and by bombardment of the soil by grains already in motion.

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Causes of Soil Erosion

1.Natural:

a. Water: The erosion of water is most prevalent in regions with high relief, although it can
occur even in land with quite moderate slopes.

b. Wind: A substantial amount of wind erosion occurs in steppe like regions where the soil
has a sandy texture

2. Human Activities:

A. Agriculture: The development of modern industrial based on a very restricted number of

cultivated crops or even on monoculture has become sizeable contributor to soil erosion.

B. Deforestation: Deforestation or over grazing increases erosion by allowing much more violent
impact of the rain on the bare surface and a grater run-off.

C. Mining: It is a localized specific activity. In this extensive quarrying, denudation of hill slopes
and large scale loosening of rock faces- all leading to condition That help the process of soil
erosion.

Desertification

 It is the process by which an area becomes even more barren, less capable of retaining
vegetation and progresses towards becoming desert. This is often a cause of long term
disasters. Deforestation, overgrazing, etc. bring about changes in rainfall, temperature,
wind velocity etc. and also lead to soil erosion. Such changes then lead to desertification
of the area.

Causes of Desertification

 Overgrazing: Animal grazing is a huge problem for many areas that are starting to
become desert biomes. If there are too many animals that are overgrazing in certain spots,
it makes it difficult for the plants to grow back, which hurts the biome and makes it lose
its former green glory.

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 Deforestation: When people are looking to move into an area, or they need trees in order
to make houses and do other tasks, then they are contributing to the problems related to
desertification. Without the plants (especially the trees) around, the rest of the biome
cannot thrive.

 Farming Practices: Some farmers do not know how to use the land effectively. They
may essentially strip the land of everything that it has before moving on to another plot of
land. By stripping the soil of its nutrients, desertification becomes more of a reality for
the area that is being used for farming.

 Urbanization and other types of land development: development can cause people to
go through and kill the plant life. It can also cause issues with the soil due to chemicals
and other things that may harm the ground.

 Climate change: Climate change plays a huge role in desertification. As the days get
warmer and periods of drought become more frequent, desertification becomes more and
more eminent.

Unless climate change is slowed down, huge areas of land will become desert; some of those
areas may even become uninhabitable as time goes on.

• Stripping the land of resources: If an area of land has natural resources like natural gas,
oil, or minerals, people will come and mine it or take it out. This usually strips the soil of
nutrients, which in turn kills the plant life, and eventually leads to the process of
becoming a desert biome as time goes on.

 Natural Disasters: There are some cases where the land gets damaged because of natural
disasters, including drought. In those cases, there isn’t a lot that people can do except
work to try and help rehabilitate the land after it has already been damaged by nature.

Effects of Desertification

 Farming becomes next to impossible: If an area becomes a desert, then it’s almost
impossible to grow substantial crops there without special technologies. This can cost a
lot of money to try and do, so many farmers will have to sell their land and leave the
desert areas.

 Hunger: Without farms in these areas, the food that those farms produce will become
much scarcer, and the people who live in those local areas will be a lot more likely to try

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and deal with hunger problems. Animals will also go hungry, which will cause even more
of a food shortage.

 Flooding: Without plant life in an area, flooding is a lot more imminent. Not all deserts
are dry; those that are wet could experience a lot of flooding because there is nothing
to stop the water from gathering and going all over the place. Flooding can also
negatively affect the water supply.

 Poor water quality: If an area becomes a desert, the water quality is going to become a
lot worse than it would have been otherwise. This is because plant life plays a significant
role in keeping the water clean and clear; without its presence, it becomes a lot more
difficult for you to be able to do that.

 Overpopulation: When areas start to become desert, animals and people will go to other
areas where they can actually thrive. This causes crowding and overpopulation, which
will, in the long run, end up continuing the cycle of desertification that started this whole
thing anyway.

 Poverty: All of the issues that we’ve talked about above (related to the problem of
desertification) can lead to poverty if it is not kept in check. Without food and water, it
becomes harder for people to thrive, and they take a lot of time to try and get the things
that they need.

Deforestation

It is a process of removal of forest resources due to natural or manmade activitie.i.e destruction

of forests.

Causes of deforestation
 Agricultural Activities: agricultural activities are one of the significant factors affecting
deforestation. Due to the overgrowing demand for food products, a huge amount of trees
are fell down to grow crops and for cattle grazing.

 Logging: Apart from this, wood-based industries like paper, match-sticks, furniture, etc.
also need a substantial amount of wood supply. Wood is used as fuel, both directly and
indirectly. Therefore trees are chopped for meeting the demand for supplies. Firewood
and charcoal are examples of wood being used as fuel. Some of these industries thrive on
illegal wood cutting and felling of trees.

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 Urbanization: In order to gain access to these forests, the construction of roads is

undertaken; here again, trees are chopped to build roads. Overpopulation too directly
affects forest covers, as with the expansion of cities, more land is needed to establish
housing and settlements. Therefore forest land is reclaimed.

 Desertification of land: Some of the other factors that lead to deforestation are also
partly natural and partly anthropogenic, like desertification of land. It occurs due to land
abuse, making it unfit for the growth of trees. Many industries in petrochemicals release
their waste into rivers, which results in soil erosion and make it unfit to grow plants and
trees.

 Mining: Oil and coal mining requires a considerable amount of forest land. Apart from
this, roads and highways have to be built to make way for trucks and other equipment.
The waste that comes out from mining pollutes the environment and affects the nearby
species.

 Forest Fires: Another valid example would be forest blazes. Hundreds of trees are lost
each year due to forest fires in various portions of the world. It happens due to extreme
warm summers and milder winters. Fires, whether caused by man or nature, results in a
massive loss of forest cover.

Impact of mining on deforestation

 Mining is one of the oldest industries and extracts solid materials and minerals necessary
to produce many of the modern products in everyday life.

 Mining is the extraction of minerals and metals form earth. Manganese, tantalum, copper,
tin, nickel, bauxite (aluminium ore), iron ore, gold, silver and diamonds, etc.

 Mining is a money making business. Not only do mining companies prosper, but
governments also make money from revenues. Workers also receive income and benefits.

 It is generally destructive to the environment. It is one of the main causes of

deforestation. In order to mine, trees and vegetation are burned and cleared.

 The ground is completely bare, large scale mining operations use huge bulldozers and
excavators to extract the metals and minerals from soil.

 In order to amalgamate (cluster) the extractions they use chemicals such as cyanide,
mercury and methylmercury.

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 These chemicals go through tailings (pipes) and are often discharged into rivers, streams,
bays and oceans.

 This pollution contaminates all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately
the people who depend on the fish for their main source of protein and their economic
livelihood.

Effect on wildlife and habitat

 Habitat loss from mining.

 Previously inhabited plants and species of the area are unable to thrive in these new, and
often harsher conditions.

 A place for birds to build their nests, foxes, wolves and other animals hide in the deep
forests with few survival options.

Impact Of Dam Building On Environment

 Dams are indeed modern marvel of human engineering and innovation. Commonly built
across a river to store irrigation water and to produce electricity through hydropower.

 Dams have proven to be useful to humanity. Dams have had such an impact on the world
that more than half of the world’s major rivers had dams constructed on them by the end
of 20th century.

 The following are the important effects of dams on environment

 Many dams do not allow fish to pass through: unless specifically engineered to allow fish
to pass through them, dams present a barrier to fish that need to migrate to spawn and
reproduce downstream and upstream along a river.

 Flooding and the construction of surrounding habitat: Dammed rivers create a reservoir
upstream from the dam, which spills out into the surroundings environments and floods
ecosystems and habitats that once existed there. The flood can kill many different
organisms including plants, animals and wildlife.

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 Dams produce greenhouse gases: Flooding of dams which kills trees and other plant life
that then decomposes and releases large amounts of carbon into atmosphere. As the river
is no longer flowing, water becomes stagnant and the bottom of the reservoir becomes
depleted of oxygen, lack of oxygen creates a situation where greenhouse gas is produced
from the decomposition which is released into atmosphere, contributing to climate
change.

 Sediment builds up behind the dam: As the dammed river no longer flows freely the
sediment that would have deposited naturally downstream begins to build up behind the
dam forming river banks, deltas, etc.

 Downstream sediment erosion: Due to the restrictions in the sediment flow above a dam,
the lack of sediment would have once flowed downstream ultimately leads to a
deficiency in sediment load and leads to an increase in downstream eorsion.

 Negative impacts on local fish populations: Local fish species will not be adapted to the
new environment that is present after a dam is built and do not survive, leading to
extirpation of local population.

Effect of Dams on forests

 Dams constitute direct and indirect causes of forest loss.

 Most users of hydro-electricity live far away from the impacted areas and that the sites
selected for dam building have been often those inhabited by indigenous peoples, tribal
people, ethnic minorities and poor communities having little capacity being heard by the
wider community.

 Most of the dams measure more than 15 meters in height are obstructing the world’s
rivers, whose reservoirs cover more than 4,00,000 sq kms of land.

 Dams have resulted in deforestation. AS farmers displaced by the dams have to clear
forests in other areas in order to grow their crops and build their homes. Dams imply road
building, in remote areas by loggers and developers.

 Effect of dams has not only created forest loss and environmental changes, but also has
impacted local people and entire river.

 Best agricultural soils are been flooded by the reservoir. The rivers, flora and faun is
disappeared.

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 Dams imply a number of health hazardous, starting with the disease introduced by
thousands of workers that are brought in to build the dam and ending with the diseases
related to the reservoir itself (Malaria, river blindness, etc.)

 Dam building has resulted in widespread human rights violations.

 Narmada Bachao Andolan movement in India.

 Bio Bio Action group in chile.etc.

Effect or impact of Dams on tribal people

 Tribal is a simple type of social group in which a common dialect is used by all tribal.

 They work together in war and peace.

 Tribal is a group of local communities living in a common area, speaking a common

dialect, culture, name, and the members of which occupy same territory and observe
certain taboos regarding marriage and have developed a well –assessed system of
reciprocity and mutuality of obligation.

 Impact of dams on biodiversity

 Dams, hydroelectric projects, diversions and unregulated water abstraction has affected
aquatic, riparian, and costal biodiversity in India and South Asia.

Water

Uses of Water

 Transportation: Water in rivers, lakes and oceans are often used as a means of transport
for conveying people and goods. Ex Atlantic ocean. River Niger, River Benue.

 Hydroelectric power: The various sources of water present on the surface of the earth
are demanded for the production of electricity. Ex Kainji Dam, Akomsombo Dam.

 Mineral Deposit: Water bodies area source of mineral deposits. Ex salt, Placer Gold, Tin
Crude oil, Titanium and Diamonds, Limestone and Gypsum,etc.

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 Sources of Food for man: Edible foods such as seaweeds and microalgae are eaten as a
sea food by different humans around the world. Ex Shellfish, squid, crab, octopus, oyster,
shrimp, lobster, etc.

 Employment: Water bodies such as lakes, rivers and oceans provide employment
opportunities in various locations of the world. Ship builders, sailors, mariners, etc

 Recreation and Tourism: Various water bodies also provide excellent facilities for
swimming, fishing and picnicking, boating skiing, etc

 Domestic Use: Household or personal water use is estimated to account 15% of

worldwide water use.

 Industrial use: A large quantity of water is required by large industries like

hydroelectric dams, thermal power plants and for cooling and generation of power

 Agricultural use: The world farmers still farm without irrigation by choosing crops that
match the amount of rain that falls in the area.

 Fishing: Fishing is a major activity among the riverine people through which they earn
their living.

 Environmental use: Environmental water may include stored impoundments and

released for environmental purposes, environmental water usage includes watering of
artificial or natural wetlands, artificial lakes created for wildlife habitat, etc.

Use of surface and ground water

 Consumptive use: In this type the water is completely utilized and cannot be reused..

Ex: Domestic, industrial and irrigation.

 Non-consumptive use: In this type the water is not completely utilized and is reused.

Ex: Hydropower plant.

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Other uses:

1. Water is used for domestic purposes like drinking, bathing, cooking, washing clothes, etc.

2. Water used in commercial establishments like hotel, theatres, educational institutions,

offices.

3. Fresh water used for irrigation.

4. Water which is used for industrial operations by refineries, iron and steel industries,
paper industries, pulp industries.

Over-utilization of surface and ground water

 The increased extraction of ground water far in excess of requirement leads to decrease in
groundwater level. The inadequate rainfall caused reduction in storage of water in
reservoirs.

 Building construction activities seal permeable soil zone and reduce the area for
percolation of rainwater thereby increasing surface runoff.

 Over utilization of ground water in costal areas leads to rapid intrusion of salt water from
the sea thereby rendering it unusable for drinking and agriculture.

 Over utilization of ground water leads to decrease in water level thereby causing
earthquake, landslides and famine.

 Over utilization of ground water leads to drying up of dug wells as well as bore wells.

Floods

 The flood hazard itself cannot be prevented, but through understanding of the land
conditions which are prone to a given hazard and the processes which could culminate in
the damage to life and property it is possible to minimize the damage through
preparedness for a particular eventuality.

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 In the tropical countries floods are caused by following factors:

a. Climatologically (rain)

b. Part Climatology (coastal storm surges, interaction between stream flows and tidal
conditions)

c. Others (Failure of dams and other control works)

 The improper land uses accentuated the flood devastation.

 There are hardly any forests left in the catchment area of the rivers.

 It is known that forest areas are characterized by high infiltration capacity and
transmissibility. The infiltration capacity of the forest areas id 2-3 times more that open
fields.

 Due to lack of protective vegetation on the banks of the save and Limpopo rivers.

 Crops are grown right on the edges of the rivers, even on river slopes.

 The combination of absence of forest cover on one hand and inappropriate farming
practices on the other intensifies the floods.

Drought

 Drought is lack or insufficiency of rain for an extended period that causes considerable
hydrologic imbalances and consequently water shortages, stream flow reductions and
depletion of groundwater levels and soil moisture.

 Drought leads to serious economic consequences but also leaves behind human misery.

 Draught affects large number of people in the world.

 Shortage of water or even the basic needs is the main problem in the drought areas.

 Measures like infiltration of wells. Underground dams, small watersheds, etc.

 Certain advance techniques like cloud seeding and artificial rains are also being tried with
varying success.

 These methods are expensive and unpredictable in their success.

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Water Conflicts
(Inter-state & international)

Krishna River Water

 The dispute is linked with three states i.e Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

 Dispute is associated with the Almati Dam constructed on river Krishna in the district
Bijapur of Karnataka.

 The central water commission changed it into the form of a multipurpose project having a
proposed height of 528 Meters.

 This was objected by Andhra Pradesh who said that by increasing the height of the dam,
the natural water flow of River Krishna would be reduced, resulting in non-availability of
water for Jurala, Shri Selam, Nagarjuna Sagar and other projects of Andhra Pradesh.

Cauvery River Water Dispute

 The Cauvery river which originated in Karnataka and flows through other states like
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (UT).

 In 1892 there was an agreement between the Prince of Mysore state and British province
of Mardras to share water for 50 years i. e till 1974

 In 1970, Tamil Nadu Government approached the central government to constitute the
tribunal and also in the same year Tamil Nadu’s farmer’s Association filed a civil suit in
Supreme Court. For the release of the water from its reservoir.

 When supreme court ordered Karnataka’s to release water, kannada people protested the
decision saying they do not have enough water.

 The matter is still under judicial consideration.

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Satluj Yamuna Link Canal Issue

 The issue links to the dispute between Punjab and Haryana. The parties involved are
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

 To enable Haryana to use its share of water of the Satluj and Beas, A canal linking the
Satluj with the Yamuna was planned and construction was started in 1982.

 Punjab contested the award and held that the tribunal overestimated availability of water.

 In 2004 Punjab assembly passed Punjab Termination of Agreements Act scrapping water
sharing agreements with other states and thus jeopardising the construction of canal.

 Under President’s Advice Punjab Assembly pass the Act according to which land
acquired for the canal would be denotified and returned to the original owners.

 Supreme court had directed both Punjab and Haryana to maintain status quo in the Sutlej
Yamuna Link Canal Controversy.

 In a recent hearing, centre has offered as a mediator to both Punjab and Haryana.

Yamuna Water Dispute

 This dispute is connected with five states of North India i. e Haryana , Uttar Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh.

 An agreement regarding Yamuna water was signed between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

 After 20-25 years, Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh also started demanding share
in the water Yamuna.

 In may 1994 then water Resources Minister arranged an agreement among all five states
to share the water supply in Yamuna, water supply would be given to Delhi on Priority.

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India-Bangladesh Dispute on River Ganga Water.

 Ganga water dispute is connected with the Kolkata Port.

 The Ganga river flows from steep slope of Himalayas and is very fast and within the
boundaries of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Many companion rivers merge into the river in
Bihar.

 After the river enters into Bangladesh, flow of its water becomes slow and it divides into
two rivers namely Padma and Ganga.

 Padma merges into Brahmaputra and becomes Meghna in Bangladesh.

 In 1974 Farakka barrage was constructed on this flow of water to make water available
for Kolkata port, so that ships can sail up to the dock even during dry season and the dock
remains free of silt.

 Bangladesh had objections to this saying that:..

1. India diverts the whole water during dry season towards Kolkata Port, which results in
insufficient quantity of water in Meghna-Padma river.

2. The gate of Farakka barrage are opened during the rainy season, which results in flood in
Bangladesh.

A river water treaty was signed. It is valid for 30 years. It can be reviewed after one year on
unilateral demand.

Mahakali River Dispute

 The dispute regarding river water Mahakali (called Sharda in India) in between India and
Nepal.

 The latest dispute relates to Ranakpur and Pancheshwar, but the dispute regarding water
has stopped after the Nepal visit of the foreign Minister of India.

 Indo-Nepal sub-commission was established with the objective of taking action on all the
aspects related with the development of water resources.

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Indus Valley Treaty

 After the partition of India, an agreement for distribution of waters of River Indus was
signed between India and Pakistan.

 The water of rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were earmarked for India.

 India foe which paid Rs 110 Crores as a one time amount to Pakistan.

 Both the countries entered into the Indus Valley Treaty and a permanent Commission of
both countries was constituted which meets every year.

Tulbul Navigation Project Dispute

 This dispute is between India and Pakistan and relates to construction of a barage on
wular Lake by Pakistan

 About 20 km route of river passing through Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir to
Baramula via sopore is to e made navigable.

 A barrage is proposed to be constructed over the lake so that even during water scarcity
flow of water is ensured.

 This will make the river navigable in India throughout the year.

 Allegations of Pakistan:

1. Tulbul project is really a water storage and it would affect the flow of water of river
Jhelum towards Pakistan.

2. This project is against the spirit of Indus water treaty, according to which India has no
right to store the water of river Jhelum.

3. India Cannot create any hindrance in the flow of the Jhelum river water as per terms of
the treaty.

Discussions have taken place between India and Pakistan on this issue 21 times, but without any
success.

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China-India: The Brahmaputra River

 The Brahmaputra river originates in Tibet and flows through India’s Arunachal Pradesh
state before merging with the Ganges and draining into Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

 This river is a important resource in all three countries i.e

Hydroelectricity – China

India & Bangladesh- Agricultural Lifeline.

 This river is important to the agricultural Industry in India, but worries have risen
recently regarding a series of hydroelectric plants that China is in various stages of
construction on its Tibetan Plateau.

 Experts say that this project will reduce the flow of the river in India, compounding an
already tenuous water situation in the affected areas.

 Some steps have been taken recently by Modi and Xi Jimping governments in the form of
an information sharing agreement for hydrological data. But Brahmaputra river remains a
potential source of friction between two of the world’s preeminent rising powers.

Energy Resources

Energy resources are the opportunities an area offers to generate electricity based on its natural
conditions and circumstances.

Types of energy Resources

 Non-renewable Resources: Coal, oil, and natural gas are the most common examples.

These resources are not limitless their availability is very limited.

 Renewable Resources: These resources include solar, water, wind, biomass and
geothermal.

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These resources are either virtually limitless like sun, which will continue to shine for
billions of years.

Non-Renewable Energy

 Coal:It is also known as black diamond.

 Coal is used as a fuel, to generate electricity, and in factories and steam engines.

 A combustible sedimentary rock mad up of mostly carbon and hydrocarbon, coal is the
most abundantly used fossil fuel world wide for the generation of electricity.

 The steel, concrete and paper industry also rely heavily on coal for both heat and by
products.

 Natural Gas: It is a gas that is made up of methane and other fossil fuels like coal.

 Like petroleum, natural gas must first be processed before we can use it as a fuel.

 Petroleum: It is a toxic, flammable liquid occurring in geological formations beneath the

earth’s surface (also called as crude oil)

 We use oil for wide variety of things, largest use is petroleum is fossil fuel and gasoline
other uses are, Pharmaceuticals, plastics, kerosene, synthetic rubber, etc.

 Uranium:

 It is a very heavy fissile metal that can be caused to split in a fission chain reaction,
producing tremendous quantities of heat which can be used to generate electricity.

Types Of Renewable Energy Resoures

 Solar: We can use solar energy to heat water at homes and it can be converted into
electricity.

 Currently converting solar energy to electricity occurs with the use of photovoltaic
cells(PV) or solar power plants.

 Solar power plants use solar energy to produce steam to operate a generator. Like wind
energy.

 Solar energy is limited in availability based on climatic conditions and challenging to

store the energy generated.

 Geothermal: The core of the earth generates a tremendous amount of heat and in many
places around the world.

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 We can harness the heat in wells and bring it to the surface to heat and cool homes and
buildings.

 Solar and wind geothermal power at individual level and installation of a thermal heat
pump to cool and heat your homes.

 Biomass: Biomass energy encompasses a broad range of fuels including wood and water
other plant material, food waste, garbage and manure.

 In case of wood and plant material, it can be processed and combusted for a beneficial
end use such as generating electricity or firing a boiler.

 Hydropower: Water is stored in a reservoir, generating a lot of potential energy.

 Then it is forced through a dam, turning a turbine, which then turns a generator to
produce electricity.

Alternative sources of energy

 Solar energy

 Wind Energy

 Geothermal energy

 Hydroelectric energy

 Biomass energy

 Ocean energy

 Hydrogen energy

Solar energy
 Nuclear fusion reaction of sun produces enormous amount of energy. Several techniques
are available for collecting, storing and using solar energy.

 Solar cell or photovoltaic cell or PV cell: uses: It is used in calculators, electronic

watches, street light, water pumps etc.

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 Solar Battery: large number of solar cells connected in series is called solar energy. It is
used in remote areas where continuous power supply is problem.

Solar Water heater: It consists of insulated box painted with black paint with glass lid. Inside the
box black painted copper coil is present. Cold water is allowed to flow, it is heated up and flows
out into a storage tank from which water is supplied through pipes.

Wind Energy

 Moving air is called wind. This energy recovered from the force of the wind is called
wind energy it’s speed is high.

 Wind Mills: When a blowing wind strikes the blade of the wind mill, it rotates
continuously and rotational motion of the blade drives number of machines lie water
pump, flour mills and electric generators.

 Wind Farms: When a large number of mills are installed and joined together in a definite
pattern – it forms wind farm. It produces large amount of electricity.

 Condition: Minimum speed for wind generator is 15 Km/hr

 Advantages: It does not cause air pollution very cheap.

Geothermal Energy

 Temperature of the earth increases 20-75oc per/ km when we move down the earth. The
energy utilised from the high temperature present inside the earth is called geothermal
energy.

 Natural geyser: Hot water or steam comes out of the ground through cracks naturally is
called natural geysers.

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 Artificial geyser: Artificially a drill hole up to the hot region and by sending a pipe into it.
The hot water or steam is used to rotate the turbine and generate electricity.

Hydroelectric Energy

 energy that comes from the force moving water. The fall and movement of water is part
of a continuous natural cycle called the water cycle.

 Energy from the sun evaporates water in the earth’s oceans and rivers and draws it
upward as water vapor. When the water vapor reaches the cooler air in the atmosphere, it
condenses and forms clouds. The moisture eventually falls to the earth as rain or snow,
replenishing the water in the oceans and rivers.

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 Hydroplants: Hydropower Plants As people discovered centuries ago, the flow of water
represents a huge supply of kinetic energy that can be put to work. Water wheels are
useful for generating mechanical energy to grind grains or saw wood, but they are not
practical for generating electricity. Water wheels are too bulky and slow.

Biomass Energy

 Bio mass: organic matter produced by plants or animals used as source of energy.

 Bio Mass Energy

 Bio gas: Mixture of methane, carbon -dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Methane is the
major constituent. It is obtained by anerobic fermentation of animal dung or plant wastes
in the presence of water.

 Bio fuels: Fuels obtained by the fermentation of biomass.

Ex: Ethanol, methanol.

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 Biofuel

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 Ethanol: produced from sugar cane. Calorific value is less.

 Methanol: obtained from ethanol calorific value too less.

 Gasohol: mixture of ethanol and gasoline India trial is going on to use gasohol in cars and
buses.

 Hydrogen Fuel: hydrogen produced by pyrolysis, photolysis and electrolysis of water. It

has high calorific value. Non polluting one because the combustion product is water.

Disadvantages

 Hydrogen is highly inflammable and explosive.

 Safe handling is required.

 Difficult to store and transfer.

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Ocean Energy

Tidal Energy or Tidal power

 Ocean tides are due to gravitational force of the sun and moon which produce enormous
amount of energy.

 High tides- rise of water in the ocean. Low tides- fall of water in the ocean.

 During high tides sea water enters into the reservoirs and rotates the turbine, produce
electricity.

 During low tides water from reservoir enters into sea rotate turbine produce electricity.

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Uses of energy

 Energy is a primary input is any industrial operation

 It is also major input is sectors such as commerce, transport, telecommunications, etc.

 The wide range of services required in the household and industrial sectors.

 Owing to the far reaching changes in the forms of energy and their respective roles in
supporting human activities, research and training on various aspects of energy and
environment have assumed great significance.

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