Population Growth and Its Effects On Environment: A Case Study of Bilaspur City (C.G)

Vindhyan Journal,Rewa (M.
P) Issue 11, Dec 2015 Pp 57-63 ISBN 2249-1988
Population Growth and its Effects on Environment:

A Case Study of Bilaspur City (C.G)
Dr. Narendranath Guria Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha
Asstt.Prof. in Geography Asstt. Prof. in Geography
Chaitanya Arts & Science College, Govt.J.P Varma P.G College Bilaspur
Pamgarh (C.G) Bilaspur (C.G)
Abstract
Growth of population in recent times has caused much concern, living in

a period of unparalleled population growth. Although there are signs indicating
that this unusual rate of increase is coming to an end in some parts of the
Bilaspur City. Bilaspur City mostly migrate people being one of the factors
determining population growth, has attracted enough attention.
In the rural context livelihoods depends more directly on natural

resources than in the urban context where cash-based income streams and assets
are more significant. And, poor people impact less on the forces causing
environmental degradation in urban areas. Urban environmental degradation is
primarily associated with health impacts. As a result, the causes, consequences
and distributional costs of urban deprivation are commonly more adequately
addressed via political and economic policies rather than through direct
intervention into environmental processes.
Key Notes: Population Growth, Pollution Issues, Policy implications,

Environmental Degradation
1
Vindhyan Journal,Rewa (M.P) Issue 11, Dec 2015 Pp 57-63 ISBN 2249-1988
Introduction
The most important fact about the experience of population growth so far
has been that not only the population of the Bilaspur has been growing; even the
rate of growth has been rising. Migration means the movement of people from
one place to the other place. It is an important control of population growth
after fertility and morality. Migration of people into an area from outside is
called immigration or in migration,
It also contributes to environmental degradation through over exploitation

of natural resources like land, air and water. The result is that health of those
dependents on untreated water resources is increasing at risk. Moreover
degraded environment can accelerate the process of impoverishment, again
because the poor depend directly on natural assets. Acceleration in poverty
alleviation is imperative to break this link between poverty and the
environment. The deterioration of natural resources and unsafe living conditions
affects the environment and health of the poor people.
Objectives
(i) recall the concept of environmental degradation and factors that cause
it;
(ii) explain how exploitation of natural resources leads to environmental
degradation;
(iii) explain the relationship between population growth and environmental
degradation;
(iv) discuss the impact of industrialization on abiotic (air, water and soil)
and biotic resources (plants and animals) of the environment;
(v) list local, regional and global backlashes caused by environmental
degradation;
(vi) Describe the impact of environmental degradation on life.
Population Growth Rate
In the census 1991 we found that the total population of the Bilaspur City
was 1,95,882. The population as per census of the year 2001 is 2, 74,917and
2011 is 3, 35, 293 decadal growth rate 21.96 %. Its outgrowth areas are Tifra,
Sirgitti and Devri – Khurd. The City has been divided into 4 zones, which are
2
further divided into 55 election wards for administrative purposes by the

Municipality. Out of these 55 wards, seven wards come in the area of South
Eastern Central Railway Administration. There are 46 notified slum pockets in
Bilaspur. The total slum population is about 40, 383 thereby making about 20%
of total population.
High increase in population was observed between 1991 and 2001 due
to the addition of 07 wards in 1994, the creation of the new State, establishment
of Zonal headquarter of South Eastern Central Railway & High Court of
Chhattisgarh. The floating population in the City is around 50,000. People visit
the City daily for official, business and personal purposes. Bilaspur showed a
maximum decadal growth rate during 1951-61 and subsequently a gradual
increase in the growth rate 121.76 %. Than growth rate in 1971 is 10.58 % ,
1981 is 53.42%, 1991 growth rate 22.25% Census 2001 is 52.87% and low rate
of 2011is 29.96% Respectively.
Table No.1
Bilaspur City: Decadal Growth Rate (1901-2011)
Census Year Population Decadal Change Decade
Variation (%
1901 18, 987 - )-
1911 19, 350 963 5.07
1921 24, 295 4,945 25.55
1931 31, 374 7,079 29.14
1941 37, 460 6,086 19.40
1951 39, 099 1,639 4.38
1961 86, 706 47,607 121.76
1971 95, 881 9,175 10.58
1981 1, 47, 106 51,225 53.42
1991 1, 79, 833 32,727 22.25
2001 2, 74, 917 95,084 52.87
2011 3, 35, 293 60,376 21.96
Source: Census of India -2011,
Trend of Urbanization
3
Process of urbanization in the region has been slow till 1951 but since then
it has accelerated. The Decennial Growth rate of urban population has declined
from 48.90 % in 1991, 36.24 % in 2001 to 22.60 % in 2011 through rate has
been higher than that of Madhya Pradesh and the country. The proportion of
rural population in Chhattisgarh has come down from96.96 % in 1901, 79.91 %
in 2001 to 76.75 % in 2011.
Table No. 2
Bilaspur City: Urban area in Bilaspur City
Sl.No. Urban Units Area Population

1 Nagar Public Nigam 2650 179833
2 Railway area 327.8 28132
3 Srigitti 647.7 9087
4 Debri Khurd 186.2 4929
5 Tifra 730.8 7639
Total 229620
Source: Bilaspur Municipal Corporation, 2012
Bilaspur City: Land Utilization
4
Map No.1 Bilaspur City: Land Utilization

Source: Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur, C.G
Urbanization and Environment
Urban life is city life. More and more people are moving to cities from
rural area in search of jobs. The rural-urban migration is also partly due to
population growth and poverty in the cities. Urbanization means permanent
settlement of people in cities and this has resulted in degradation of the
environment in various ways. Industrialization opened up many new jobs.
Industries attracted rural youth to cities and their migration become easier with
the improvement in communication and transport facilities.
Effects of Population Growth
One of the major causes of environmental degradation in Bilaspur could

be attributed to rapid growth of population, which is adversely affecting the
natural resources and environment. The three fundamental demographic factors
of births, deaths and migration produce changes in population size;
composition, distribution and these changes raise a number of important
5
questions of cause and effect. The pressures on the environment intensify every
day as the population grows. The rapid increase of human numbers combines
with desperate poverty and rising levels of consumption are depleting natural
resources on which the livelihood of present and future generations depends.
Poorer people, who cannot meet their subsistence needs through purchase, are
forced to use common property resources such as forests for food and fuel,
pastures for fodder, and ponds and rivers for water.
1. Environmental challenges
Population growth and economic development are contributing to many
serious environmental problems in Bilaspur. These include pressure on land,
land/soil degradation, forests, habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity,
changing consumption pattern, rising demand for energy, air pollution, global
warming and climate change and water scarcity and water pollution. Pressure on
land Bilaspur city faces the most acute pressure on agricultural land. It shows
variations in land use and a narrow range of fluctuations in the proportion of net
sown area to total land in the City since 2001 to 2001. Out of total geographical
area of 329 Thousands hectares, only 306 Thousands hectares is the reporting
area. The land for non-agricultural uses (housing, industry and others) is
increased from 9.36 Thousands hectares in 2001 to 22.97 Thousands hectares in
2011 census.
2.Forest resources
To regulate unabated diversion of forestland for non-forestry purposes,
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was enacted. It has resulted in reduction of
diversion of forest area for non-forestry purposes considerably and the present
rate of diversion is 16, hectare annually (Economic Survey of Bilaspur, 1991-
01). Forests are an important natural resource of Bilaspur. They play an
important role in providing raw materials to industries and generating income
and employment Bank (Angelsen, A. 1997). Forests also play an important role in
enhancing the quality of environment by influencing the ecological balance and
life support system (checking soil erosion, maintaining soil fertility, conserving
water, regulating water cycles and floods, balancing carbon dioxide and oxygen
content in atmosphere etc. They have moderate influence against floods and
thus they protect the soil erosion.
6
3. Declining per capita forest land and agricultural land

The population growth has resulted in a downward trend in per capita
availability of forest and agricultural land since the 1950s. Per capita
availability of forests in Bilaspur is much lower than the Chhattisgarh average.
The per capita availability of forest land and agricultural, Overall per capita
availability of forestland had oscillated around 0.113 hectare during the 1950s,
and then has consistently declined. The per capita availability of forest land
declined from 0.124 hectares per capita from 1991-01 to 0.071 The growth of
population is expected to be faster than hoped for improvements in forest cover
as well as quality.
4. Net availability of food grains

The per capita net availability of food grains in Bilaspur is presented. The
per capita net availability of food grains in Bilaspur indicates that, there is an
availability or shortage of food grains in the City. Increasing trends in per capita
availability of food grains is largely due to cereals. Although, per capita
availability of pulses seems to have gone down since 1961 but the availability
of the edible oil, sugar and cotton cloth depict an increasing trend. Overall the
per capita availability of food grains had gone up from 395 grams per capita per
day in 2001 to 458 grams per capita per day in 1999-2000. The per capita
availability of cereals increased from 334 grams per capita per day in 2001 to
426 grams per capita per day in 1999-2000. Furthermore, per capita availability
of pulses declined from 61 grams per capita per day to 32 grams per capita per
day over the period. However, the per capita per day availability of pulses had
gone down during the period but simultaneously the per capita per day
availability of edible oil, sugar and cotton cloth has been consistently increased
during the period. Of course, availability does not mean accessibility because of
lack of purchasing power among poor sections of society. However, better
organizational management can assure better distribution and thus consumption
when the availability is assured.
5. Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity
Protection of earth's biological diversity is an important goal in its own
right. Biodiversity has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine,
industry etc. It also has the aesthetic and recreational value. The greatest threat
to biodiversity is not destruction of plants and animals per se, but rather the
destruction of their habitat. Bilaspur is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity City of
the Chhattisgarh. From about 70 percent of the total geographical area surveyed
7
so far 46,000 plant species and 81,000 animal species representing about 7
percent of the Chhattisgarh's flora and 6.5 percent of the Chhattisgarh's fauna
have been described. It is estimated that in the Chhattisgarh wide perspective
slightly over 1000 animal species and sub-species are threatened with the
extinction rate of one per year, while 20,000 flowering plants are thought to be
at risk (Compendium of Environment Statistics, 2000).
6. Rising demand for energy

Coal production through open cast mining; its supply to and consumption
in power stations and industrial boilers leads to particulate and gaseous
pollution, which can cause pneumoconiosis, bronchitis and respiratory diseases.
The energy production/consumption in Bilaspur during 1950-51 to 2000-2001 is
depicted. Energy production and consumption has increased steadily in Bilaspur
since 1950 onwards. The bulk of commercial energy comes from the burning of
fossil fuels viz. coal and lignite in solid form, petroleum in liquid form and gas
in gaseous form. In addition to emission of greenhouse gases, the burning of
fossil fuels has led to several ecological problems and associated with health
problems like cancer risk, respiratory diseases and other health problems.
Burning of traditional fuel adds a large amount of carbon-di-oxide into
atmosphere and increases air pollution (Agarwal, B 1997). This clearly indicates
that burning of fossil fuels, especially coals, emits lot of carbon di oxide in the
atmosphere and leads to global warming. The increasing population numbers
and growing affluence have already resulted in rapid growth of energy
production and consumption in Bilaspur, and this trend can only be expected to
accelerate in the future.
7.Air pollution
Bilaspur cities are among the most polluted in the Chhattisgarh. Air in
metropolitan cities has become highly polluted and pollutant concentrations
exceeds limit considered safe by the Chhattisgarh Health Organization (WHO).
Table 3 The main factors accounts to urban air quality deterioration are growing
industrialization and increasing vehicular pollution, industrial emissions,
automobile exhaust and the burning of fossil fuels kills thousands and lives
many more to suffer mainly from respiratory damage, heart and lung diseases.
Table No. 3
8
Bilaspur City: Air Pollution Perametre, 2010- 2012

Air Pollution 2010
Month So2 NoX RSPM SPM
Sep 6.22 15.64 - 409.8
Oct 5.35 13.68 - 348.77
Nov 9.87 23.45 - 386.75
Dec 7.386 20.486 - 402.78
Air Pollution 2011
Aprl 9.435 22.112 - 418.43
May 9.062 20.5 - 393.036
June 6.814 17.799 - 334.225
July 7.64 19.873 - 224.91
Aug 6.446 13.453 - 140.18
Sep 7.879 24.504 - 212.425
Oct 9.96 28.014 - 341.025
Nov 9.37 25.281 - 430.95
Dec 6.735 21.338 - 370.62
Air Pollution 2012

Jan 6.884 26.442 - 307.358
Feb 7.014 22.997 - 329.144
March 9.372 25.533 - 390.322
April 8.8 24.47 - 403.658
May 6.652 18.426 - 371.5
June 5.54 16.41 - 275.46
July 4.38 14.88 - 175.2
Aug 4.51 13.01 - 113.38
Source: Environmental department, Bilapur(C.G)
8. Global warming and climate change

The City's large population and rapidly increasing energy use plays an
important and growing role in global warming. Global warming can have major
physical, environmental and socioeconomic consequences, which can be both
positive and negative. The estimation of these impacts is complex and marked
with uncertainties. Climate change would cause changes in precipitation
patterns, ocean circulation and marine systems, soil moisture, water availability,
and sea level rise (Bhargava, Gopal, 1999). These would make an impact on
9
agriculture, forestry and natural eco-systems like wetlands and fisheries. Also
with rising temperatures, and subsequent increasing heat stress and alternation
in patterns of vector-borne diseases, the global population would be more
vulnerable to health problems, causing disruptions in settlement patterns and
large-scale migration.
9. Water security and water pollution

The amount of water available per person has declined in recent decades -
primarily because of population growth and water scarcity is projected to
worsen in the future. The water pollution in Bilaspur comes from three main
sources: domestic sewage, industrial effluents and run off from activities such
as agriculture. Levels of solid wastes increased in rivers and ponds and other
water systems are also heavily polluted due to the intrusion of solid wastes
(Bhargava, Gopal, 1999),
Bilaspur City: Water Pollution Scenario
Map No. 6 Bilaspur City: Water Pollution Scenario

Source: Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur C.G
Largely because of widespread pollution, access to safe drinking water remains

an urgent need as only 70.1 percent of the households in urban areas and 18.7
percent in rural areas received organized pipe water supply and others have to
10
depend on surface and ground water which is untreated (Statistical Abstract of

Bilaspur, 1999). Even small quantities of these residues ingested daily along
with food can build up high levels in the body fat.
Policy implications
The creation of employment opportunities is essential in agricultural
areas with high poverty, unemployment and landlessness. Poverty also affects
the demographic characteristics of the population and hinders the transition to
slower population growth (Agarwal, B 1997). There is a need to control poverty
and population growth below replacement level in the City. Wastewater
treatment plants should be established in accordance with the need of time and
its usage should be encouraged. The environment protection should not be a
responsibility of government alone but local people and leaders should be
encouraged to make dedicated efforts to eradicate the environmental problems.
The increasing population numbers and growing affluence have already
resulted in rapid growth of energy production and consumption in Bilaspur city
and this trend can only be expected to accelerate in the future. The
environmental effects like air pollution and global warming are of growing
concern owing to increasing consumption levels.
Impact of population growth on environment

With growing population, requirement for space, shelter, and
commodities have exerted enormous pressure on the environment. To provide
for these, land use has change dramatically. It has already been seen that forests
have been cleared for cultivation of grain and fruit crops.
1. Clearing land for cultivation to grow more food
Forests and natural grasslands have been converted to farmlands.
Wetlands have been drained and arid lands have been irrigated. These changes
have been made to grow more food and more raw materials. But in doing so, the
natural resources have been depleted and the landscapes have undergone drastic
changes.
2. Water scarcity
Water received as rainfall, flows into rivers, lakes and other water bodies.
Some of it seeps into the ground and reaches the ground water. At certain depth
of the soil, all the pore spaces between soil particles are saturated with water.
This depth is called Water the water table may remain stable if the drawn from
the ground water is replenished by the seepage of the rain water.
11
3. Need for human settlements

Apart from excessive land use changes for growing food, large population
means greater requirement for shelter. To make houses for so many, stones and
other building materials have to be quarried more rocks have to be blown off
and more water to be used.
4. Need for transport
Elaborate network of transport is required to fulfill the growing need of
teeming Thousands. Various modes of transports have been developed which
consume growing quantities of fossil fuels such as coal, gas and petroleum,
polluting the atmosphere.
5. Need for various commodities
The raw materials and fossil fuels and water needed to run industries for
manufacturing these products lead to their depletion. Rapid industrialization has
also led to pollution from dumping of industrial effluents into rivers and other
water bodies. Rapid industrialization has caused much damage to the
environment. Mining activities have depleted stock of mineral resources
particularly fossil fuels (Agarwal, B 1997). Present day industrial civilization is
becoming a burden on nature and it is time for us to learn to live in harmony
with nature.
6. Slum development
Over populated areas result in congested roads and slum formation which
lack basic amenities like drinking water, drainage, waste disposal, lack of
hygienic conditions and filthy environment create potential conditions for
public health problems including spread of epidemic diseases. Discharge of
untreated effluents and throwing of waste into water bodies have polluted most
of the lakes and rivers.
7. Pollution resulting from overpopulation
Arpa river are suffering from pollution due to discharge of effluents from industries,
human settlements, bathing, washing of clothes and throwing of garbage into the river.
Table No. 4
12
Bilaspur City: Water Pollution of Arpa River, 2011
Date & Result

15-07-
Sl.No Characteristics Units ( ̊C) 2011
Result -1 Result -2 Result -3
1 Temparature 30 29 29
2 appernce Clear S.Turbid S.Tutbid
3 Odour ph units Odourless Odourless Odourless
4 Ph NTU 7.5 7.5 7.5
5 Turbidity ns/gm 8.1 11.8 10.1
6 sp.Conductivity mg/l 299 804 592
7 Total solid mg/l 160 384 264
8 Suspended soild mg/l 124 331 218
fixed dissolved mg/l
9 solid 36 53 46
10 Amm.Nitrogen mg/l 1.12 1.31 1.3
11 Nitrate Nitrogen mg/l 1.39 1.7 1.7
12 Nitrite Nitrogen mg/l 0.04 0.076 0.057
13 Phosphate(po4) mg/l 1.21 1.28 1.2
14 Sulphate(So4) mg/l 35 70 95
Dissolved mg/l
15 Oxigen(Do) 41 42 42
16 BOD (3 days 27 ̊C) mg/l 6.7 6.5 615
17 COD mg/l 1.9 2.4 1.5
18 Total Alkalinity mg/l
19 Total Hardness mg/l 160 220 370
20 Calcium mg/l 150 188 160
21 Calcium hardness mg/l 70 110 100
22 Magnesium mg/l 80 78 60
23 Flaoride mg/l 28 44 40
Source: Environmental department, Bilapur(C.G)
13
Summary and Conclusions

Rapid population growth continues to be a matter of concern for the City
as it has manifold effects, one of the most important being environment
degradation. The outcomes of excessive population are industrialization and
urbanization. The study reveals that rapid population growth has led to the
overexploitation of natural resources. The deforestation has led to the shrinking
of forest cover, which eventually affects human health. The considerable
magnitude of air pollution in the City also pulls up the number of people
suffering from respiratory diseases and many a times leading to deaths and
serious health hazards.
Wastewater treatment plants be established in accordance with the need

of time and its usage should be encouraged. The heavy penalty should be
imposed on industries disposing off the wastes into the river. Moreover, the
landfills are to be properly managed to prevent ground water contamination.
Since slums are one of the major sources of water pollution proper measures
should be taken to facilitate the slums with water and sanitation facilities.
Reference
Agarwal, B (1997): “Gender, Environment and Poverty Interlinks: Regional Variations and
Temporal shifts in Rural India, 1971-91”, World Development, Vol.25, No.1, pp.23-52.
Anon, (1995), "Ambient Air Quality-Statcity and Statistics, Central Pollution Control
Board,.
Anon, (1997), "Dhanbad Water Supply Cut-Off', The Telegraph, Anand Bazar Patrika
Limited, Calcutta, December 11, 1997.
Anon, (1997), "Tiny Killers", Down to Earth, Society for Environmental Communications,
New Delhi, November 15, 1997. Bhargava, Gopal, (1992), Pollution and Its Control; Mittal
Publishing Hocitye, New Delhi.
Bhargava, Gopal, (1999),"The Pollution Story in Black and White", Down to Earth, Sunita
Narain Publications, New Delhi.
14

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Vindhyan Journal,Rewa (M.

P) Issue 11, Dec 2015 Pp 57-63 ISBN 2249-1988

Population Growth and its Effects on Environment:

Dr. Narendranath Guria Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha

Asstt.Prof. in Geography Asstt. Prof. in Geography

Pamgarh (C.G) Bilaspur (C.G)

Growth of population in recent times has caused much concern, living in

In the rural context livelihoods depends more directly on natural

Key Notes: Population Growth, Pollution Issues, Policy implications,

It also contributes to environmental degradation through over exploitation

Population Growth Rate

further divided into 55 election wards for administrative purposes by the

Source: Census of India -2011,

Bilaspur City: Urban area in Bilaspur City

Sl.No. Urban Units Area Population

Bilaspur City: Land Utilization

Map No.1 Bilaspur City: Land Utilization

Effects of Population Growth

One of the major causes of environmental degradation in Bilaspur could

3. Declining per capita forest land and agricultural land

4. Net availability of food grains

6. Rising demand for energy

Bilaspur City: Air Pollution Perametre, 2010- 2012

Air Pollution 2012

8. Global warming and climate change

9. Water security and water pollution

Bilaspur City: Water Pollution Scenario

Map No. 6 Bilaspur City: Water Pollution Scenario

Largely because of widespread pollution, access to safe drinking water remains

depend on surface and ground water which is untreated (Statistical Abstract of

Impact of population growth on environment

3. Need for human settlements

Bilaspur City: Water Pollution of Arpa River, 2011

Date & Result

Source: Environmental department, Bilapur(C.G)

Summary and Conclusions

Wastewater treatment plants be established in accordance with the need

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