36
by 2050 (9.7 billion). The report also states that nine countries viz., India, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania,
Indonesia, Egypt and United States of America (in descending order) will contribute
50% of the population growth between 2019 and 2050. India presently have 1.3 billion population which is 17.71% of the world population and ranked second in the
world. The population in India is expected to grow by 273 million people between
2019 and 2050 and India will surpass China by 2027 (UN 2019).
This excessive growth in population results in rapid depletion of natural
resources. The natural resources in India can be grouped into seven categories which
are soil, mineral, water, land, energy, marine and biodiversity. Depletion occurs
when the renewable and non-renewable natural resources are consumed faster than
they can recover. Overpopulation leads to depletion of natural resources in the following ways:
(a) Increase in population also increases the demand for food, water and land. The
increased food demand leads to increase in the pressure on soils through the
intensification of agricultural production. According to Kopittke et al. (2019),
present agricultural practices are resulting in the degradation of soils. This soil
degradation results in loss of organic matter, release of greenhouse gases, erosion, contamination, acidification, salinization and loss of genetic diversity. The
water demand in India is also increasing. India is the largest consumer of
groundwater in the world. According to CGWB (2019), India has 1186 and 313
of over-exploited and critical blocks which may increase at a rapid rate. As
discussed earlier, 96.40 million hectares (mha) in India is experiencing land
degradation. The one main reason of land degradation in India is
overpopulation.
(b) Mining of minerals and oils have also increased in India to meet the growing
demand of population.
(c) Increase in population also increases the energy demand of the country. The
power generation in India depends largely on coal power. The increase in energy
demand also leads to production of more energy which leads to more consumption of coal to produce more power. The coal burning to produce energy again
leads to more environmental pollution.
(d) As per data of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning
Authority (CAMPA) (from Scroll.in website), 14,000 km
2
of forest was cleared
between 1986 and 2016, for mining (4947 km
2
), defence (1549 km
2
) and hydroelectric (1351 km
2
) projects.
(e) According to India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan Report (2019) India
harbours nearly 8% of the globally known floral and faunal species and also
known for its crop diversity. One of the main reasons of biodiversity loss in
India is overpopulation.
(f) Increase in population also leads to generation of more wastes and waste water
which creates further environmental problems within the country.
P. K. Sikdar and S. Basu
by 2050 (9.7 billion). The report also states that nine countries viz., India, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania,
Indonesia, Egypt and United States of America (in descending order) will contribute
50% of the population growth between 2019 and 2050. India presently have 1.3 billion population which is 17.71% of the world population and ranked second in the
world. The population in India is expected to grow by 273 million people between
2019 and 2050 and India will surpass China by 2027 (UN 2019).
This excessive growth in population results in rapid depletion of natural
resources. The natural resources in India can be grouped into seven categories which
are soil, mineral, water, land, energy, marine and biodiversity. Depletion occurs
when the renewable and non-renewable natural resources are consumed faster than
they can recover. Overpopulation leads to depletion of natural resources in the following ways:
(a) Increase in population also increases the demand for food, water and land. The
increased food demand leads to increase in the pressure on soils through the
intensification of agricultural production. According to Kopittke et al. (2019),
present agricultural practices are resulting in the degradation of soils. This soil
degradation results in loss of organic matter, release of greenhouse gases, erosion, contamination, acidification, salinization and loss of genetic diversity. The
water demand in India is also increasing. India is the largest consumer of
groundwater in the world. According to CGWB (2019), India has 1186 and 313
of over-exploited and critical blocks which may increase at a rapid rate. As
discussed earlier, 96.40 million hectares (mha) in India is experiencing land
degradation. The one main reason of land degradation in India is
overpopulation.
(b) Mining of minerals and oils have also increased in India to meet the growing
demand of population.
(c) Increase in population also increases the energy demand of the country. The
power generation in India depends largely on coal power. The increase in energy
demand also leads to production of more energy which leads to more consumption of coal to produce more power. The coal burning to produce energy again
leads to more environmental pollution.
(d) As per data of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning
Authority (CAMPA) (from Scroll.in website), 14,000 km
2
of forest was cleared
between 1986 and 2016, for mining (4947 km
2
), defence (1549 km
2
) and hydroelectric (1351 km
2
) projects.
(e) According to India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan Report (2019) India
harbours nearly 8% of the globally known floral and faunal species and also
known for its crop diversity. One of the main reasons of biodiversity loss in
India is overpopulation.
(f) Increase in population also leads to generation of more wastes and waste water
which creates further environmental problems within the country.
P. K. Sikdar and S. Basu