NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography India: People and Economy Chapter 6: Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

Chapter at a glance

Exercise Questions

Question 1 (i)

Regional planning relates to:
(a) Development of various sectors of economy. (b) Area specific approach of development. (c) Area differences in transportation network. (d) Development of rural areas.

Answer

Sectoral planning means development of various sectors of the economy; regional planning is an area-specific approach of development, aimed at reducing regional imbalances.

2. Area specific approach of development

Question 1 (ii)

ITDP refers to which one of the following?
(a) Integrated Tourism Development Programme (b) Integrated Travel Development Programme (c) Integrated Tribal Development Programme (d) Integrated Transport Development Programme

Answer

ITDP stands for the Integrated Tribal Development Project/Programme, started in the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974) — e.g. in the Bharmaur region.

3. Integrated Tribal Development Programme

Question 1 (iii)

Which one of the following is the most crucial factor for sustainable development in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?
(a) Agricultural development (b) Eco-development (c) Transport development (d) Colonisation of land

Answer

The sustainability of the Indira Gandhi Canal command area depends crucially on eco-development — maintaining the fragile desert ecology through proper water management, afforestation and shelterbelts, preventing waterlogging and salinity.

2. Eco-development

Question 2 (i)

What are the social benefits of ITDP in the Bharmaur tribal region?

Answer

The ITDP in the Bharmaur region (Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh), home of the Gaddi tribe, gave priority to the development of transport and communications, agriculture and allied activities, and social and community services. Social benefits include: increase in literacy (especially female literacy), improvement in sex ratio, decline in child marriage, better health care (hospitals, dispensaries), drinking water, electricity, and schools. Traditional transhumance has declined as more people practise agriculture and other occupations; the region is better connected.

ITDP in Bharmaur brought schools, health centres, drinking water, electricity, roads and communications, leading to higher literacy (especially among women), an improved sex ratio, fewer child marriages and better living conditions for the Gaddi tribe, with a shift from transhumance to agriculture and other occupations.

Question 2 (ii)

Define the concept of sustainable development.

Answer

Sustainable development is defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) in its report Our Common Future (1987) as “a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs”. It takes care of ecological, social and economic aspects of development and calls for the conservation of resources for future generations.

Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, 1987), balancing economic, social and ecological concerns.

Question 2 (iii)

What are the positive impacts of irrigation on Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?

Answer

1. Availability of soil moisture for a longer period and various afforestation and pasture development programmes have resulted in the greening of land.
2. This has helped in reducing wind erosion and siltation of canal systems.
3. Agricultural economy transformed – the cropped area and cropping intensity increased; traditional crops (gram, bajra, guar) were replaced by wheat, cotton, groundnut and rice.
4. Increased agricultural and livestock productivity; higher incomes; drinking water availability; settlement of people.

Irrigation from the Indira Gandhi Canal increased soil moisture, enabled afforestation and pasture development (greening the desert), reduced wind erosion and canal siltation, expanded cropped area and intensity, replaced drought-resistant crops with wheat, cotton, groundnut and rice, and raised productivity and incomes.

Question 3 (i)

Write short notes on drought-prone area programme. How does this programme help in the development of dryland agriculture in India?

Answer

Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP): 1. Initiated during the Fourth Five Year Plan (1973) with the objective of providing employment to the people in drought-prone areas and creating productive assets. 2. Initially it laid emphasis on the construction of labour-intensive civil works. Later, it emphasised irrigation projects, land development programmes, afforestation, grassland development and creation of basic rural infrastructure such as electricity, roads, markets, credit and services. 3. The National Committee on Development of Backward Areas reviewed it and found that it was largely confined to the development of agriculture and allied sectors with a major focus on restoration of ecological balance. Since growing population pressure was forcing people to use marginal lands, causing ecological degradation, there was a need to create alternative employment opportunities. 4. Strategy included adoption of an integrated watershed development approach at the micro-level; restoration of ecological balance between water, soil, plants, and human and animal populations. 5. The Planning Commission identified 67 districts (entire or partly) prone to drought in 1967; the Irrigation Commission (1972) introduced the criterion of 30% irrigated area. Drought-prone areas largely cover Rajasthan, Gujarat, western Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada (Maharashtra), Rayalaseema and Telangana plateaus, Karnataka plateau and highlands and interior parts of Tamil Nadu; also parts of Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan (largely protected by irrigation).

How it helps dryland agriculture: 1. Watershed development – check dams, percolation tanks and contour bunding conserve rainwater and soil moisture. 2. Irrigation – small irrigation projects increase water availability. 3. Soil conservation and land development improve productivity. 4. Afforestation and pasture development restore ecological balance, provide fodder and fuel, and reduce desertification. 5. Drought-resistant crops and improved dryland farming techniques. 6. Alternative livelihoods (animal husbandry, dairying) and rural infrastructure reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture and reduce distress migration.

DPAP, started in the Fourth Plan (1973), aimed to provide employment and create productive assets in drought-prone areas (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Karnataka plateau, etc.) — first through labour-intensive works, later through irrigation, land development, afforestation, pastures and rural infrastructure, using an integrated watershed approach. It helps dryland agriculture by conserving rainwater and soil moisture, small irrigation, soil conservation, afforestation and fodder, drought-resistant crops and alternative livelihoods.

Question 3 (ii)

Suggest the measures of promotion of sustainability in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area.

Answer

The Indira Gandhi Canal project has faced problems of waterlogging, soil salinity, decline in productivity and ecological imbalance. Measures for sustainability (seven measures suggested in the chapter): 1. Strict implementation of water management policy – the canal project envisages protective irrigation in Stage I and extensive irrigation of crops and pasture development in Stage II. 2. Cropping pattern – the cropping pattern shall not include water-intensive crops (sugarcane, rice); farmers should grow plantation crops such as citrus fruits and other less water-intensive crops. 3. Efficient irrigation – the CAD programmes such as lining of water courses, land development and levelling and the warabandi system (equal distribution of canal water in the command area of an outlet) should be effectively implemented to reduce conveyance losses. 4. Reclamation of waterlogged and saline land – areas affected by waterlogging and soil salinity should be reclaimed. 5. Eco-development through afforestation, shelterbelt plantation and pasture development – particularly in Stage II, in the fragile environment. 6. Social sustainability – land allottees with weak economic backgrounds (poor farmers) should be provided adequate financial and institutional support for cultivation of land. 7. Development of other sectors – agricultural development alone cannot lead to sustainable development; agriculture and allied activities have to develop along with other sectors of the economy, leading to diversification of the economic base and establishing functional linkages between basic villages, agro-service centres and market centres.

Measures include strict water management (protective irrigation), avoiding water-intensive crops in favour of citrus and other low-water crops, lining water courses, land levelling and the warabandi system, reclaiming waterlogged and saline land, afforestation, shelterbelts and pasture development, financial and institutional support to poor allottees, and diversifying the economy beyond agriculture with links between villages, service centres and markets.

Question Project – (i)

Find out the area development programmes being implemented in your region. Assess the impact of such programmes on the society and economy in your locality.

Answer

(Sample — students should study programmes in their own region.)

Region: a rural block in Rajasthan.

Programmes being implemented: 1. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) – 100 days of wage employment; works like ponds, check dams, roads. 2. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development – check dams, farm ponds, contour bunding. 3. Desert Development Programme / Integrated Watershed Management Programme. 4. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) – all-weather rural roads. 5. Jal Jeevan Mission – tap water connections; Swachh Bharat Mission – toilets; PM Awas Yojana – housing. 6. Aspirational Districts Programme (NITI Aayog) in backward districts.

Impact assessment: - Economy: increased employment and wages (MGNREGS), more water for irrigation and higher crop yields from watershed works, better market access via roads, reduced distress migration. - Society: better sanitation and health, women’s empowerment (MGNREGS gives women equal wages and work near home), better school attendance with roads and water supply. - Problems: delays in wage payments, corruption, poor quality of assets in some places, limited people’s participation, maintenance issues.

Sample: in a rural Rajasthan block, MGNREGS, watershed development, the Desert Development Programme, PMGSY roads, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat and PM Awas Yojana have raised employment and incomes, improved water availability and crop yields, connected villages to markets, reduced migration, and improved sanitation, health and women’s participation — though delays, leakages and poor maintenance remain problems.

Question Project – (ii)

Select your own area or identify an area facing severe environmental and socio-economic problems. Make an assessment of its resources and prepare their inventory. Suggest the measures for its sustainable development as it has been done in the case of Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area.

Answer

(Sample — Bundelkhand region, Uttar Pradesh–Madhya Pradesh.)

Problems: recurrent droughts, low and erratic rainfall, rocky and degraded soils, deforestation, falling groundwater, low agricultural productivity, poverty, indebtedness, distress migration and farmer suicides; mining causing degradation.

Resource inventory

Measures for sustainable development: 1. Water conservation – desilting and restoring traditional tanks, check dams, farm ponds, watershed development, rainwater harvesting; the Ken–Betwa river link with proper environmental safeguards. 2. Appropriate cropping pattern – drought-resistant crops (pulses, oilseeds, millets), drip and sprinkler irrigation; avoid water-intensive crops. 3. Afforestation and pasture development – regenerate forests, plant fodder trees, check soil erosion and ravine expansion. 4. Livestock improvement – dairy development, management of stray cattle through gaushalas and fodder banks. 5. Regulation of mining and land reclamation. 6. Alternative livelihoods – agro-processing, small industries, handicrafts, tourism (Khajuraho, Orchha, Jhansi). 7. Social measures – credit and insurance for farmers, education, skill training, women’s self-help groups; community participation in resource management.

Sample — Bundelkhand: it faces droughts, degraded soils, deforestation, falling groundwater, poverty and migration. Its inventory includes rocky land and ravines, seasonal rivers (Betwa, Ken) and silted Chandela tanks, degraded forests, minerals, livestock and labour. Sustainable measures: restore traditional tanks and develop watersheds, grow drought-resistant crops with micro-irrigation, afforest and develop pastures, improve livestock and fodder, regulate mining, promote agro-processing and tourism, and support farmers through credit, insurance, skills and community participation.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Regional planning and target area programmes (Q 1 (i), 3 (i), project (i))
• ☒ ITDP in Bharmaur (Q 1 (ii), 2 (i))
• ☒ Sustainable development and Indira Gandhi Canal (Q 1 (iii), 2 (ii), 2 (iii), 3 (ii), project (ii))

Total questions answered: 10 of 10