Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Some words are printed in bold in order to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
The catastrophic monsoon floods in Kerala and parts of Karnataka have revived the debate on whether political expediency trumped science. Seven years ago, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel issued recommendations for the preservation of the fragile western peninsular region. Madhav Gadgil, who chaired the Union Environment Ministry’s WGEEP, has said the recent havoc in Kerala is a consequence of short-sighted policymaking, and warned that Goa may also be in the line of nature’s fury. The State governments that are mainly responsible for the Western Ghats — Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra — must go back to the drawing table with the reports of both the Gadgil Committee and the Kasturirangan Committee, which was set up to examine the WGEEP report. The task before them is to initiate correctives to environmental policy decisions. This is not going to be easy, given the need to balance human development pressures with stronger protection of the Western Ghats ecology. The issue of allowing extractive industries such as quarrying and mining to operate is arguably the most contentious. A way out could be to create the regulatory framework that was proposed by the Gadgil panel, in the form of an apex Western Ghats Ecology Authority and the State-level units, under the Environment (Protection) Act, and to adopt the zoning system that it proposed. This can keep incompatible activities out of the Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs).
At issue in the Western Ghats — spread over 1,29,037 sq km according to the WGEEP estimate and 1,64,280 sq km as per the Kasturirangan panel — is the calculation of what constitutes the sensitive core and what activities can be carried out there. The entire system is globally acknowledged as a biodiversity hotspot. But population estimates for the sensitive zones vary greatly, based on interpretations of the ESZs. In Kerala, for instance, one expert assessment says 39 lakh households are in the ESZs outlined by the WGEEP, but the figure drops sharply to four lakh households for a smaller area of zones identified by the Kasturirangan panel. The goal has to be sustainable development for the Ghats as a whole. The role of big hydroelectric dams, built during an era of rising power demand and deficits, must now be considered afresh and proposals for new ones dropped. Other low-impact forms of green energy led by solar power are available. A moratorium on quarrying and mining in the identified sensitive zones, in Kerala and also other States, is necessary to assess their environmental impact. Kerala’s Finance Minister, Thomas Isaac, has acknowledged the need to review decisions affecting the environment, in the wake of the floods. Public consultation on the expert reports that includes people’s representatives will find greater resonance now, and help chart a sustainable path ahead.
Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following has been attributed by the experts as a reason of the recent floods in Kerala and Karnataka?
Explanation
Refer to, “Madhav Gadgil, who chaired the Union Environment Ministry’s WGEEP, has said the recent havoc in Kerala is a consequence of short-sighted policymaking, and warned that Goa may also be in the line of nature’s fury.”
It is clear from the above that the experts are of the view that policy making has been the major reason of such floods in the country as it has not taken into account the environmental considerations of the area.
It makes Option D the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:According to the passage, the states affected by the floods should do which among the following to prevent such incidents in the future?
Explanation
Refer to, “The State governments that are mainly responsible for the Western Ghats — Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra — must go back to the drawing table with the reports of both the Gadgil Committee and the Kasturirangan Committee, which was set up to examine the WGEEP report. The task before them is to initiate correctives to environmental policy decisions.”
It implies from the above lines that the states should ponder over the steps to be taken in order to preserve the ecology of the Western Ghats Area and they should think about implementation of the expert panel report on this issue.
This makes Option C the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following is the main issue pointed out in the passage in the implementation of the expert panel reports in various states?
Explanation
Refer to, “This is not going to be easy, given the need to balance human development pressures with stronger protection of the Western Ghats ecology.”
It is very much clear from the above lines that the objective of sustainable development is very difficult to meet with the political considerations in mind and that is why it becomes very difficult to strike a balance between the political objectives and the environmental requirements of the Western Ghats Area.
Statement A is incorrect since the expert panel has recommended formation of committee and authority to oversee the development in the Western Ghats Area.
Statements B, C and D are not in sync with the given context though they may sound logical otherwise. Only Option E implies the same as has been depicted in the passage.
This makes Option E the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following should be the objective of all concerned regarding the development of the Western Ghats Area?
Explanation
Refer to, “The goal has to be sustainable development for the Ghats as a whole.”
It is very clear that the main objective of all the activities surrounding the Western Ghats Area should be overall development of the region and also for all the parties concerned. There should be sustainable development of all the regions in the area.
Except statement D, all the other options are not related to the given context and that is why they are eliminated. Option D implies the same as referred to in the above reference.
This makes Option D the correct choice among the given options
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following should be the course of action of the government in order to ensure that the Western Ghats Area is preserved properly?
I. There should be utilization of various clean sources of energy such as the solar power in the area
II. There should not be any restriction in mining activities as well as quarrying activities in the area
III. There should not be new construction of hydroelectric dams in the area from now onwards
Explanation
Refer to, “The role of big hydroelectric dams, built during an era of rising power demand and deficits, must now be considered afresh and proposals for new ones dropped. Other low-impact forms of green energy led by solar power are available. A moratorium on quarrying and mining in the identified sensitive zones, in Kerala and also other States, is necessary to assess their environmental impact.”
It is clear that in order to preserve the Western Ghats Area, the solar energy should be promoted in the area along with moratorium on the mining and quarrying activities in the area. Apart from that, there should be restriction on construction of new hydroelectric power dams in the area. This makes statements I and III true.
Hence, Option C is the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following is true regarding the regulatory framework recommended by the expert panel regarding the conservation of the Western Ghats Area?
Explanation
Refer to, ”A way out could be to create the regulatory framework that was proposed by the Gadgil panel, in the form of an apex Western Ghats Ecology Authority and the State-level units, under the Environment (Protection) Act, and to adopt the zoning system that it proposed. This can keep incompatible activities out of the Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs).”
It is implied that the central authority should be there to regulate the development of the area with the assistance from the state-level authorities so that there is proper coordination in the whole process. Statement D implies this whereas rest of the options clearly do not imply this type of regulation in the area.
This makes Option D the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following is the view of the Finance Minister of Kerala regarding the efforts towards development of the Western Ghats Area?
Explanation
Refer to, “Kerala’s Finance Minister, Thomas Isaac, has acknowledged the need to review decisions affecting the environment, in the wake of the floods. Public consultation on the expert reports that includes people’s representatives will find greater resonance now, and help chart a sustainable path ahead.”
It is clear from the above lines that the Finance Minister of Kerala is of the view that public should be engaged in the process of developing any blueprint for the Western Ghats Area in the country. It would then be possible to chart out a development roadmap in the area.
Statements E only implies the same with the other options being irrelevant in the given context.
This makes Option E the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following is similar in meaning to the word Resonance as used in the passage?
Explanation
The given word Resonance has been used in the sense that the expert panel report will find its way in the public and there will be a lot of public support and discussion regarding the recommendations of the panel.
Among the given options, Delightful refers to beautiful whereas blissful refers to being heavenly and credence refers to support. Consonance refers to being in agreement and this is the best synonym to the given word since they imply one and the same.
Hence, Option C is the right choice among the given options.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 84
Try yourself:Which among the following is opposite in meaning to the word Moratorium as used in the passage?
Explanation
The given word 'moratorium' has been used in context to imply postponement or ban on mining and quarrying activities in the Western Ghats Area.
Among the given options, adjournment refers to deferment of an activity, accommodation refers to shelter and termination refers to the end of something. Only continuation refers to continuance of something. This is opposite in meaning to the given word.
This makes Option C the right choice among the given options.
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