Chapter – 1

Resources and Development

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 10 Social Science (Geography) chapter 1 Resources and Development in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 10 board exams.

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Chapter 1: Resources and Development

What is a Resource?

Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable, can be termed as a Resource.

Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate their economic development. Human beings are also regarded as a resource because they can transform substances found in the environment into useful resources, and use them — this is why humans are called a “human resource,” a special kind of resource that makes use of nature to create other resources.

For a substance to become a resource, it must fulfil three conditions:

• Technologically accessible — the technology to extract and use it must exist.
• Economically feasible — the cost of obtaining it should not exceed the benefit gained.
• Culturally acceptable — society must be willing to use it.

Classification of Resources

Resources can be classified on the basis of origin, exhaustibility, ownership and the status of their development.

1. On the Basis of Origin

• Natural Resources: Resources drawn directly from nature and used without much modification, such as air, water, soil, minerals and forests.
• Human-made Resources: When people use natural substances to make buildings, bridges, machinery, technology or other things through their own knowledge, skill and technology, such things become human-made resources.
• Human Resources: People are a resource too. Their number, skill, education, health and creativity make them a valuable resource. Human beings themselves make use of nature to create other resources, so people are viewed as a special kind of resource who make use of nature to create other resources.

2. On the Basis of Exhaustibility

• Renewable Resources: Resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical processes, such as solar and wind energy, water and forests. Some of them, like solar and wind energy, are continuous or unlimited/perpetual resources.
• Non-Renewable Resources: Resources which take millions of years for their formation and occur in a limited stock, such as fossil fuels (coal, petroleum). Once these are consumed, they will take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished.

3. On the Basis of Ownership

• Individual Resources: Resources which are owned privately by individuals, such as plots of land, houses, ponds, wells and orchards owned by farmers and other people.
• Community Owned Resources: Resources that are accessible to all the members of the community, such as village grazing grounds, burial grounds, public parks, playgrounds and picnic spots.
• National Resources: Technically, all the resources belonging to a country — the land, water, forests, wildlife and minerals within its political boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles from the coast (known as territorial water) — are considered as national resources, since the government has the power to acquire even private property for public good.
• International Resources: There are international institutions which regulate certain resources. The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to open ocean, and no individual country can utilise these resources without the concurrence of international institutions.

4. On the Basis of the Status of Development

• Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region but have not been utilised so far, for example, the enormous potential of solar and wind energy in Rajasthan and Gujarat, which currently remains unused.
• Developed Resources: Resources that are surveyed, and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation. The development of resources depends on technology and the level of their feasibility.
• Stock: Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs, but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to access them, are called a “stock.” For example, water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, both of which can be used as sources of energy, but we do not yet have the technological know-how to use them for this purpose — hence, they are a stock.
• Reserves: The subset of the stock which can be put into use with the help of existing technical know-how but has not been used so far, is called a “reserve.” Reserves can be used in the future to meet the future needs of society, for example, river water can be used for generating hydro-electric power, but it has not yet been used for this at some locations.

Need for Resource Planning

Resources are vital for any kind of development, but the availability of resources found in nature varies across regions in India. There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources. For example:

• Jharkhand is rich in mineral resources but is deficient in agricultural land.
• Arunachal Pradesh has abundant water resources but lacks infrastructural development.
• Rajasthan is very rich in solar and wind energy but is deficient in water resources.

There are some regions which are self-sufficient in the availability of resources, and there are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources. Regions which have rich resources with the appropriate technology and institutions can prosper, whereas regions with either poor resource base or inappropriate technology and institutions can stagnate. Therefore, there is a need for balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional and local levels.

Resource Planning in India

India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources — some regions are rich in certain resources but deficient in some other resources, some regions are self-sufficient, and some have acute shortages of vital resources. This calls for a national-level, balanced and integrated resource planning.

Resource planning is a complex process which involves the following stages:

1. Identification and inventory of resources across regions of the country — this involves surveying, mapping and estimating/measuring the resources through various techniques and geographical surveys.
2. Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, institutional set-up for implementing resource development plans.
3. Matching the resource development plans with the overall national development plans.

Resource planning is an important tool for balanced resource utilisation as India has a rich base of natural resources; still, we have huge developmental issues confronted with related problems of unequal distribution among regions and communities. There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources, and some regions have acute shortage of some vital resources. For example, some states are rich in mineral resources but agriculturally underdeveloped, and vice versa.

Since Independence, India adopted resource planning, but even after 75 years of independent economic planning, we have not been able to achieve a balance of resource development across all the regions. Some regions are highly developed while others still lag behind — this is largely because of the lack of appropriate resource development technology and institutions in the underdeveloped regions.

Resource Development

Indiscriminate use of resources by human beings for their selfish motives has led to several problems, such as the depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of a few individuals, degradation of the environment, and global ecological crises such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution, and land degradation. So there is a need for “Resource Development,” which means sustainable economic development — a planned and judicious utilisation of resources that satisfies present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. It is a wise decision to use our resources with human considerations, technological adaptability, and economic viability, so that the earth’s resources and its environment are preserved for future generations too.

International Context of Sustainable Development

• 1968 — Club of Rome: A group of scientists and thinkers advocated for resource conservation for the first time on a global platform, raising concerns about the unsustainable and reckless use of resources.
• 1987 — Brundtland Commission Report: Introduced the concept of “Sustainable Development” and advocated it as a means for achieving development without depleting the environment or compromising the interest of future generations — defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• 1992 — Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit: Over 100 heads of state met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss and deliberate strategies for environmental protection and to control global environmental degradation, in the first International Earth Summit. Signatories agreed to a Global Climate Convention and a Convention on Biological Diversity, endorsed the Global Forest Principles, and adopted Agenda 21 — a declaration signed by member countries to combat environmental damage, poverty and disease through global cooperation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities, aiming to achieve sustainable development at the global level.

Land Resources

Land is a vital natural resource that supports natural vegetation, wildlife, agriculture, transportation, industries, and human settlements. It is a resource of finite magnitude, so it is important to use the limited land resources judiciously. India has land under a variety of relief features — plains (43%), which provide facilities for agriculture and industry; mountains (30%), which ensure a perennial flow of water and other resources such as forest produce, and are ideal for tourism and ecological aspects; and plateaus (27%), which possess rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.

Land-use Categories

Land use is determined both by physical factors such as topography, climate, soil type, and human factors such as population density, technological capability, and culture and traditions. The land-use data in India is categorised as follows:

• Forests: Land under forest cover in the country.
• Land Not Available for Cultivation: This includes two sub-categories — (a) barren and wasteland which cannot be brought under cultivation with the present available technology, such as rocky, arid and desert areas, and (b) land used for non-agricultural purposes, such as housing, roads, railways and industry — this category has been continuously increasing over time due to expanding human settlements and infrastructure.
• Other Uncultivated Land (Excluding Fallow Land): This includes permanent pastures and grazing land, land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves, and culturable wasteland. Most of the culturable wasteland has been left fallow for more than five years and could be brought under cultivation with more effort.
• Fallow Lands: Land which is left uncultivated for one or more agricultural years, to allow the land to recover its fertility naturally. Fallow land is of two types — current fallow (left uncultivated for less than a year) and other fallow (left uncultivated for a period between one and five years).
• Net Sown Area: The physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested in a year is known as the net sown area. When a piece of land is used to grow crops more than once during an agricultural year, this area is counted only once and is expressed as the “gross cropped area” for the additional sowings.

Land Degradation and Conservation Measures

There are many human activities that also add to land degradation, apart from natural factors. Major human-induced causes of land degradation in India are:

• Unscientific mining that leaves deep scars and traces of over-burdening/waste materials after excavation.
• Excessive irrigation, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, which is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging, leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
• Overgrazing, particularly in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which is one of the important reasons for land degradation in these states.
• In states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, mining and industrial effluents in surrounding water bodies also cause severe land and water degradation.

Conservation measures to control land degradation:

• Afforestation: Planting trees and increasing forest cover to check soil erosion and restore ecological balance.
• Land Reclamation: Proper management of dumping and disposal of industrial effluents, and reclaiming mined land through appropriate methods once mining activity is complete.
• Checking Overgrazing: Regulating the number of cattle grazing on pasture land and encouraging controlled/rotational grazing methods.
• Control of Mining Activities: Proper planning and control of mining and quarrying activities, along with the reclamation of the mined-out area to prevent further degradation.
• Proper management of grazing and plantation of shelter belts of plants can also help stabilise sand dunes and other affected areas.

Soil as a Resource

Soil is one of the most important natural resources. It supports the growth of plants and different types of organisms on which agriculture depends. Soil is a living system — it takes millions of years to form a mere 1 cm layer of soil, and it is a crucial link between the “living” and the “non-living” world.

Formation of Soil

Soil formation is influenced by a number of factors, namely:

• Relief
• Parent rock or bed rock
• Climate
• Vegetation and other life forms
• Time

Various processes, such as weathering by the action of temperature change, running water, wind and glaciers, along with the activity of decomposers, contribute to the formation of soil. Chemical and organic changes take place in these deposits, which change their colour, texture, chemical composition and thickness. Climate and vegetation are the most important factors determining the type of soil that forms.

Classification of Soils

• Alluvial Soil: The most widely spread and important soil, found in the northern plains and river valleys covering the Satluj-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains. It is depositional soil, transported and deposited by rivers, and is generally rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime, but poor in nitrogen and humus. It is classified as “Khadar” (newer, deposited annually, more fertile) and “Bangar” (older, above the flood plains). It is highly fertile and ideal for growing sugarcane, rice, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
• Black Soil (Regur Soil): Found in the Deccan trap region covering Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, formed from volcanic (lava) rocks. It is popularly known as “regur soil” or “cotton soil” because it is ideal for the cultivation of cotton. This soil is known for its capacity to hold moisture and is rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime, but deficient in phosphoric content.
• Red and Yellow Soil: Found in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan Plateau, developed on crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks. The soil gets its red colour due to the diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks, and it looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
• Laterite Soil: Formed due to intense leaching caused by heavy rainfall and high temperature, resulting in the loss of lime and silica while leaving iron oxide and aluminium compounds behind. Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and hilly areas of Odisha and Assam. It is suitable for cultivation of tea and coffee, and for cashew nut when manures and fertilisers are used to overcome its low humus content.
• Arid Soil: Ranges from red to brown in colour, generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. In some areas, the salt content is so high that common salt is obtained by evaporating the water. Due to the dry climate, high temperature and lack of moisture and humus, the lower horizons of these soils develop a kankar layer that restricts water infiltration. This soil becomes cultivable after adequate irrigation and addition of fertilisers.
• Forest Soil: Found in hilly and mountainous areas that receive sufficient rainfall and support forest cover. The soil texture varies with mountain environment — loamy and silty on the valley sides and coarser in the upper slopes. In the snow-bound areas of the Himalayas, forest soils experience denudation and are acidic with low humus content.

Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

Soil Erosion: The removal of the top, fertile layer of soil by the action of water, wind and human activities is called soil erosion. Unscientific and rampant deforestation, overgrazing, construction and mining activities are some of the major causes leading to soil erosion.

• Sheet Erosion: Water flows as a sheet over large areas, washing away the fine top soil evenly.
• Gully Erosion: Water cuts through clayey soils and deepens narrow channels/gullies, making the land unfit for cultivation and forming what is called “bad land” — the “ravines” of the Chambal basin are the best example of badland topography.
• Wind Erosion: In dry and arid areas, strong winds blow away the loose topsoil, resulting in the loss of fertile land.

Methods of Soil Conservation:

• Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contour of a hilly terrain slows down the flow of water and reduces soil erosion, since furrows created by contour ploughing act as speed breakers to the flow of water down the slope.
• Terrace Farming: Constructing broad terraces/steps on hill slopes to permit cultivation, which is widely practised in the western and the central Himalayas, checks soil erosion effectively.
• Strip Cropping: Large fields are divided into strips, and grass strips are left to grow between the crops to break the force of the wind — this is known as “strip cropping.”
• Shelter Belts: Planting lines/rows of trees to check wind erosion, especially in coastal and arid regions. The shelter belts of trees have been planted in the western coastal regions to stabilise the sand dunes and check wind erosion.
• Ploughing along the contour, controlled/rotational grazing, and constructing bunds along the field boundaries also help conserve soil.

Key Points to Remember

• Anything from our environment which can satisfy human needs, and is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable, is called a resource.
• Resources are classified on the basis of origin (natural, human-made, human), exhaustibility (renewable, non-renewable), ownership (individual, community, national, international), and status of development (potential, developed, stock, reserve).
• Resource planning in India has three stages — identification/inventory through surveys and mapping, evolving an institutional planning structure, and matching resource plans with national development plans.
• The 1968 Club of Rome, the 1987 Brundtland Commission and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (Agenda 21) shaped the global concept of sustainable development.
• Land-use categories include forests, land not available for cultivation, other uncultivated land, fallow land and net sown area.
• Land degradation is checked through afforestation, land reclamation, controlling overgrazing and regulating mining.
• India has six major soil types — alluvial, black (regur), red and yellow, laterite, arid, and forest soil.
• Soil conservation methods include contour ploughing, terrace farming, strip cropping and shelter belts.

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