UP PCS Mains-2024

Approach Explain the term physical resources. Discuss the physical resources available in Uttar Pradesh. Highlight the challenges to harnessing these resources. End with a conclusion.

Introduction

Physical resources include the underlying rocks, soils, air, and water that are integral components of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They also include geological features, such as volcanoes, caves, canyons, and fossils that tell the story of life on Earth.

Body

Physical Resources available in Uttar Pradesh:

• Energy: Energy demand has been increasing steadily along with the development of the State. It is derived from two sources:
• Conventional Sources: The source of energy that cannot be reused after using it once are called “Conventional Sources of Energy or the “Non-renewable Energy Resources”. For example, Meja Thermal Power Station is a coal-based plant located in Prayagraj district.
• Non-Conventional Sources: These are the energy sources that are continuously replenished by natural processes. For example, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, etc. As per an assessment by the National Institute of Solar Energy, Uttar Pradesh has solar potential of around 22.83 GW while it has installed renewable energy capacity of 4,727 MW.
• Mineral: Geological setup of Uttar Pradesh favours igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic mineral deposits.
• Bauxite is found in the Chitrakoot, Sonbhadra, Chandauli, and Banda districts.
• Coal is found in the Sonbhadra district and used in the Singrauli Super Thermal Power Plant.
• Diamond deposit is found in the Banda and Mirzapur districts.
• Soil: A major area of Uttar Pradesh is covered by a deep layer of alluvium soil formed mainly by the slow-moving rivers of the Ganga River system.
  • The Gangetic plain is a very fertile plain where Rabi and Kharif crops are grown, for example, rice, wheat, millet, gram, etc.
  • Sugarcane is the chief cash crop of this region.
• Water: Uttar Pradesh is drained by several rivers originating in the Himalayas to the north and the Vindhya range to the south.
  • The Ganges and its tributaries, the Yamuna, the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, and the Gandak rivers are fed by the perpetual snows of the Himalayas.
  • Chambal, Betwa, and Ken originate from the peninsular plateau region and drain in the south-western part of the State before joining the Yamuna.
• Forest: There are three major forest types in Uttar Pradesh: tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous, and tropical thorny forests. These forests are spread over the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern parts of the state.
  • The Terai region has mostly moist tropical forests of sal, Eastern Uttar Pradesh has dry deciduous mixed forests, Eastern and Western UP generally have teak or mixed forests, and the Bundelkhand region is covered widely with thorny scrub forests.

Challenges in Harnessing the Physical Resources:

• The renewable energy facilities that feed energy into the grid need a lot of space (problem of land acquisition), as well as expensive installation and maintenance.
• Excessive use of water in irrigation increases the salinity of the soil and the depletion of groundwater. According to the State of Groundwater Report 2021, as of March 2020, 70% of Uttar Pradesh’s 822 blocks and 80% of urban areas were experiencing a sharp decline in groundwater levels.
• Lack of capital investment in the field of mineral exploration, the inadequacy of qualified manpower, and the lack of modern technology to process solid minerals.
• Soil erosion is the most serious problem in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the loss of topsoil and terrain deformation. Excessive use of chemical fertilisers continuously degrades the natural fertility of the soil.
• The impacts of climate change and deforestation due to illicit felling of trees, illicit mining, encroachment activities, and unchecked grazing are the major challenges to harnessing forest resources sustainably.

Conclusion

Uttar Pradesh has plenty of physical resources, which increases the potential of the state to boost socio-economic development. There is a need to harness physical resources sustainably keeping the balance between the economy and the environment.