Question

Which of the following statements are correct with respect to land degradation?
(A) All degraded lands are wasteland.
(B) All degraded lands may not be wasteland, but unchecked process of development may
lead the conversion to wasteland.
(C) Land degradation is permanent or temporary decline in productive capacity of the land.
(D) Waterlogged, marshy areas and gullied lands are different types of degraded lands.

• A. (A), (C) and (D) only
• B. (A), (B) and (D) only
• C. (A), (B) and (C) only
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Statement (B) is correct as degraded lands may not always be wasteland, but development can cause further degradation. - Statement (C) is correct, as land degradation affects the productive capacity of land, either permanently or temporarily. - Statement (D) is correct, as waterlogged areas and gullied lands are considered types of degraded lands. Statement (A) is incorrect as not all degraded lands are wasteland.
The correct option is (D): (B), (C), and (D) only

Answer 2

Let’s evaluate each statement:

• (A) All degraded lands are wasteland: This is incorrect. Not all degraded lands are wasteland. Land degradation refers to the decline in the quality or productivity of land, which can result from various factors such as erosion, deforestation, or overgrazing. However, degraded land can still be usable and may be restored through proper management practices.
• (B) All degraded lands may not be wasteland, but unchecked process of development may lead to the conversion to wasteland: This is correct. Degraded lands may not initially be wasteland, but if the process of degradation continues unchecked (due to overuse, poor agricultural practices, urbanization, etc.), the land could eventually turn into wasteland.
• (C) Land degradation is permanent or temporary decline in productive capacity of the land: This is correct. Land degradation is the decline in the productive capacity of land, which can be either permanent or temporary depending on the severity of the degradation and the possibility of rehabilitation.
• (D) Waterlogged, marshy areas and gullied lands are different types of degraded lands: This is correct. Waterlogged areas, marshy areas, and gullied lands are indeed different types of degraded lands, each resulting from specific environmental and human-induced processes.

Thus, the correct answer is (D): (B), (C) and (D) only.