Environmental pollution due to overcrowding and fewer resources

Statement: “Indonesia has a much higher population density than India. Their GDP - per capita (PPP) is almost the same as India and yet the country, both cities and villages, is much cleaner than India.” Nambiar (Oct. 7, 2006), http://www.sulekha.com/groups/postdisplay.aspx?cid=706573&forumid=756919)

REBUTTAL:

Higher population density and the lack of resources can lead to a serious pollution of the environment very quickly. Consider the following information involving Indonesia and India.

INDONESIA:

Area = 1.9 million sq km
Population = 220 million
Population density = 117 persons per sq km
Per capita income = $4458 (huge oil wealth)
Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia

INDIA:

Area = 3.3 million sq km
Population = 1.1 billion (1100 million)
Population density = 329 persons per sq km
Per capita income = $3344
Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India

CONCLUSION:

India is almost 3 times more over-crowded than Indonesia. In other words, quantity of garbage generated or filth created over a certain area (let’s say 1 sq km) in India is about 3 times the amount of garbage generated over similar area (1 sq km) in Indonesia.

Moreover, the greater oil wealth (almost 33% more per capita income) in Indonesia can be effectively used to create a better infrastructure for getting rid of garbage and other filth related problems. This sort of money is not there in India.

The higher population density in India (almost 3 times more than Indonesia) leads to creating more garbage (about three times more over the same area) in India. In addition, since India has less money (about 33% less) per person than Indonesia, having good facilities / infrastructure to get rid of the garbage in India may not be that easy as in Indonesia. Note also that due to the increased population pressure, India probably also lacks sufficient water (on per capita basis) making its sanitation efforts more difficult.

Hence, more garbage probably can be seen lying around in India than in Indonesia and has the potential to spread more diseases through increased flies, mosquitoes and rats infesting the garbage and filth.

Related link

(1) “Cleaning the Indian town”, May 27, 2006, http://www.sulekha.com/groups/postdisplay.aspx?cid=30475&forumid=756961

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By: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Email:
[email protected]
Date: Oct. 8, 2006

link to: Related topics by the author

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