Page 57 - ICSE GEOGRAPHY
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services and education, habitually lead to
many social problems including violence,
drug abuse, and crime. Poverty related
crimes are the highest in rapidly-growing
urban regions.
Destruction of Habitats
Th e destruction of natural habitats is a
negative impact on the environment caused
due to urbanisation. Th e conversion of a
A slum near Bandra station, Mumbai
natural area to an urban area to accommodate
Water and Sanitation Problems more people means the destruction of
everything that existed previously. When
On account of overpopulation in most urban wetlands, for example, are paved over, an
centres, the sewage system becomes a problem.
ecosystem is lost and any species dependent
Municipalities and local governments face a
serious resource shortage in the management on that ecosystem die out in that area. A less
drastic example is that of erosion—valleys
of sewage facilities.
tend to contain fertile topsoil which gets
washed away if the valley is urbanised.
Lifestyle Diff erences
Lifestyle diff erences between the rural and
urban areas also cause cultural conflicts.
When rural people move to the city, initially
they might undergo identity problems as
they do not understand or cannot get used
to the urban lifestyle. If they cannot adapt,
Water logging due to sewage problem
it may lead to insensitive, disinterested
As a result, sanitation becomes poor and and aggressive behaviour. Eventually,
sewage fl ows chaotically and drains into
the traditional balance and order of the
neighbouring streams, rivers, lakes or seas. community deteriorate.
Eventually, communicable diseases such as
typhoid, dysentery, plague and diarrhoea Pollution
spread very fast leading to sickness and even
Air pollution is one of the major drawbacks
deaths. Overcrowding also contributes to
of urbanisation. Th e diff erence in air quality
water scarcity as the supply of water falls
between rural areas and urban areas is
short of the demand for it.
signifi cant. Factories and automobiles are
Urban Crime synonymous with urbanisation. Th e harmful
Issues like overcrowding, unemployment, emission of gases and smoke from factories
poverty and the lack of resources, social and vehicles cause air pollution.
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