Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources. (15 marks, 250 Words)

Q17 Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources. (15 marks, 250 Words)

The Ganga River Basin is one of the most densely populated regions globally, with over 43% of India’s population living in the area. The basin exemplifies how favorable physical endowments such as fertile soils, abundant water, and flat land—directly shape population distribution and density.

Distribution and Density of Population in the Ganga Basin

• Upper Ganga Basin (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, parts of UP)

1. • Sparsely populated due to rugged terrain, steep slopes, and limited cultivable land.
   • Population concentrated in valleys (e.g., Dehradun, Haridwar) where land and irrigation are available.
2. Middle Ganga Basin (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar plains)
   • Highest population concentration (UP- 829 persons/sq km), ( Bihar-1,106 persons/sq km) due to fertile alluvial soils, perennial water supply, and flat topography.
   • Cities like Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, and Prayagraj serve as urban-industrial nodes.
3. Lower Ganga Basin (West Bengal)
   • High density in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta, one of the most fertile regions globally.
   • Kolkata Metropolitan Region (15 million people) is a major population cluster due to port facilities, industries, and fertile soils.
   • Deltaic tracts often face floods and waterlogging but still sustain dense rural settlements due to intensive rice cultivation.

Factors Influencing Density of Population

• Land Resources

• • • Flat and extensive plains of the Ganga Basin provide ideal conditions for dense human settlements.
    • Land use is dominated by agriculture, with double and triple cropping systems made possible by fertile soils and irrigation.
    • The high carrying capacity of land explains the basin’s population concentration compared to peninsular India.

• Role of Soil Resources

• • • The basin is endowed with deep alluvial soils, replenished annually by floods.
    • Soils support cultivation of foodgrains (wheat, rice, pulses), sugarcane, and cash crops (jute in Bengal).
    • The fertility of soils reduces dependence on fertilizers and sustains subsistence as well as commercial farming.
    • In contrast, Himalayan tracts with skeletal soils support lower population density.

• Role of Water Resources

• • • The Ganga and its tributaries (Yamuna, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, Son) provide year-round water, supporting rural and urban settlements like Delhi, Kolkata.

• Extensive canal irrigation systems (e.g., Upper and Lower Ganga Canals, Sarda Canal) enhance agricultural productivity.

• • Ganga basin is India’s largest groundwater reservoir.
  • Annual floods displace populations→Despite risks, fertile floodplains like Kosi belt in Bihar remain densely populated.

Conclusion

Rapid population growth, environmental degradation, and climate change challenge the carrying capacity of the Ganga River basin. Sustainable resource management, flood control, and population stabilization policies are critical for ensuring that the Ganga Basin continues to support millions without ecological collapse.

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