Rural peoples are more safe than urban peoples from the detrimental effect of pollution.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
However, they are also facing some environmental problems due to their ignorance, illiteracy, poverty and superstitions.
Some environmental problems faced by rural peoples are outlined below:
1. Poor sanitation:
Because of the illiteracy and poverty of the people in rural area, they do not know the importance of sanitation and hygiene. Such an ignorance causes environmental pollution leading to the break out of a number of epidemics like cholera, typhoid etc.
2. Conversion of Farm land to housing land:
To provide shelter to the increased population in rural areas, more and more agricultural lands are being utilized for housing purposes by rural peoples. This results in decreased per capita availability of cultivated land which ultimately induces over cultivation.
3. Lack of drainage facilities:
Lack of drainage facilities and open defecation make the rural areas Filthy and unhygienic which directly or indirectly help in spreading of a number of diseases.
4. Indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers:
To increase the crop productivity for providing food to increased population, the illiterate rural farmers used a number of pesticides and fertilizers, not in proper amount. The excess of pesticides and agrochemicals accumulate in water bodies and soil causing potential health hazards in humans and other aquatic and terrestrial living organisms (animals).
5. Salination, desertification and degration of Lands:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The over cultivation of farm lands in rural area and misuse of water meant for irrigation lead to salination, desertification and land degradation.