[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Natural Resources of UP- Soil, Water, Air, Forests, Grasslands, Wetlands

1. Soil Resources (Mitti Sansadhan)

Trend: Shift from “General Classification” to “Soil Health,” “Reclamation,” and “Natural Farming.”

A. Classification & Distribution

• Bhabar & Terai Soil: Pebble-rich (Bhabar) and nitrogen-rich clayey soil (Terai) suitable for Sugarcane/Paddy.
• Gangetic Alluvium:
  • Khadar: New alluvium (Flood plains of Ganga/Yamuna/Ghaghara).
  • Bangar: Old alluvium (Higher grounds).
• Southern Plateau Soil (Bundelkhand):
  • Mar & Kabar: Black soil variants (Regur-like) suitable for Gram/Oilseeds.
  • Parwa & Rakar: Reddish sandy soil (Coarse grains).

B. Problems & Management

• Soil Erosion (Ravines): Formation of “Behad” (Badlands) in the Chambal-Yamuna belt (Agra, Etawah, Jalaun).
• Salinity & Alkalinity (Reh/Usar):
  • Problem: Approx. 1.3 Million hectares in Central/Eastern UP (Raebareli, Sultanpur, Azamgarh) affected due to waterlogging and faulty irrigation.
  • Solution: Use of Gypsum, Pyrite, and “Sodic Land Reclamation Projects” (World Bank aided).

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Natural Farming Corridor: Promotion of chemical-free farming (Gau-Adharit) in the 5-km belt along both banks of the River Ganga (Namami Gange initiative).
• Soil Health Card 2.0: Focus on “Micro-nutrient mapping” in 2025 to address Zinc and Sulphur deficiency in the Indo-Gangetic plains.

2. Water Resources (Jal Sansadhan)

Trend: “Inter-linking,” “Groundwater Stress,” and “Har Ghar Jal Saturation.”

A. Surface Water (Drainage System)

• Himalayan Rivers: Perennial flow (Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghara, Rapti).
• Vindhyan Rivers: Seasonal flow (Ken, Betwa, Chambal, Son).
• Irrigation Infrastructure:
  • Canals: Largest network in India (Sharda, Saryu Canal Project).
  • Tubewells: ~74% of net irrigated area (Leading to aquifer depletion).

B. Groundwater Management

• Critical Blocks: Over-exploitation in Western UP (Agra, Meerut, Saharanpur).
• Atal Bhujal Yojana: Community-led water security plans in 10 stressed districts.

C. Conservation Projects

• River Inter-linking: Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) to transfer surplus water to the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
• Amrit Sarovar: Construction of 75 ponds per district for rainwater harvesting.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Daudhan Dam Construction: In 2025, work expedited on the Daudhan dam (part of KBLP) inside Panna TR to facilitate irrigation in Banda, Mahoba, and Jhansi.
• Jal Jeevan Mission: UP achieved saturation in tap water connections for several districts in the Vindhya region, a historic milestone for the water-scarce belt.

3. Air Resources (Air Quality Management)

Trend: “Airshed Management” and “Non-Attainment Cities.”

A. Air Pollution Landscape

• Indo-Gangetic Plain Effect: The “Valley Effect” traps pollutants during winter.
• Sources: Vehicular emissions (NCR), Construction dust, Bio-mass burning, and Thermal Power Plants (Singrauli).
• NCAP Cities: 17 Non-Attainment Cities in UP (including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra) with city-specific action plans.

B. Strategic Interventions

• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Implementation in NCR districts (Noida/Ghaziabad) based on AQI severity.
• EV Policy: Transition to Electric Buses in urban centers to reduce PM2.5.

Current Affairs Linkage (Dec 2025):

• UPCAMP (World Bank): In Dec 2025, the World Bank approved the $300 Million “UP Clean Air Management Project” (UPCAMP).
  • Goal: First project to adopt an “Airshed Approach” (treating air as a common resource across boundaries) rather than city-centric solutions.
  • Focus: Reducing particulate matter in the Indo-Gangetic belt.

4. Forest Resources (Van Sampada)

Trend: “ISFR Data Interpretation” and “Carbon Forestry.”

A. Status (ISFR 2023 – Released 2024)

• Recorded Forest Area (RFA): ~6.88% of Geographical Area.
• Green Cover (Forest + Tree Cover): Increased to ~9.23%.
  • Top Districts (Area): Sonbhadra, Kheri, Mirzapur.
  • Lowest Districts: Bhadohi, Mau.
• Target: Increase Green Cover to 15% by 2026-27.

B. Classification of Forests

• Tropical Moist Deciduous: Terai region (Sal, Teak, Sheesham) – High economic value.
• Tropical Dry Deciduous: Plains (Neem, Peepal, Mango).
• Tropical Thorny: Bundelkhand (Acacia, Babul) – Fuel and fodder.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”: In July 2024, UP set a global record by planting over 36.50 Crore saplings in a single day under this campaign.
• Carbon Credits for Farmers: The UP government initiated a pilot in Gorakhpur to register farmers’ trees for Carbon Credits, generating “Carbon Currency” for rural households.

5. Grasslands (Ghas ke Maidan)

Trend: “Wildlife Habitat” and “Fodder Security.”

A. Ecological Significance

• Terai Grasslands: Tall, wet grasslands (Elephant Grass) found in Dudhwa, Pilibhit, and Katarniaghat.
  • Importance: Critical habitat for the One-Horned Rhino, Bengal Florican, and Swamp Deer.
• Dry Grasslands: Scrublands in the Vindhyan region (Ranipur TR) supporting Blackbuck and Chinkara.

B. Resource Utility

• Fodder Banks: Establishment of Fodder Banks in drought-prone Bundelkhand to support the “Anna Pratha” (Stray cattle) solution.
• Pasture Land Development: Reclamation of Gram Sabha land for community grazing under MNREGA.

6. Wetlands (Ardrabhoomi)

Trend: “Ramsar Sites” and “Eco-Tourism (Amrit Dharohar).”

A. Status of Wetlands

• Ramsar Sites: UP has 10 Ramsar Sites (2nd highest in India after Tamil Nadu).
  • Examples: Bakhira (Sant Kabir Nagar), Haiderpur (Bijnor), Nawabganj (Unnao), Parvati Arga (Gonda).
• State Wetlands: Over 1 Lakh small wetlands identified under the ISRO Wetland Atlas.

B. Conservation Strategies

• District Wetland Committees: Empowered to notify and protect wetlands <2.25 hectares.
• Bird Sanctuaries: Most wetlands act as sanctuaries for migratory birds coming from Siberia via the Central Asian Flyway.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• World Wetlands Day 2025: The national-level celebration was hosted at Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary (Gonda), emphasizing the “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing” theme.
• Amrit Dharohar Scheme: Implementation in UP to promote unique conservation values of Ramsar sites while generating eco-tourism employment for local “Wetland Mitras.”