Q15.What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples.

Reclamation of water bodies involves converting natural aquatic ecosystems like lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas into urban land. This is primarily driven by rapid urbanization and the escalating demand for infrastructure.

This practice has severe environmental consequences. Hydrologically, it destroys natural floodplains and storm buffers, significantly increasing flood risk and waterlogging. Ecologically, it leads to irreversible destruction of aquatic ecosystems, causing massive habitat loss and a drastic reduction in biodiversity. Water quality suffers due to loss of natural filtration systems, leading to pollutant accumulation and reduced groundwater recharge, exacerbating water scarcity and potentially causing saltwater intrusion. Furthermore, reclamation alters local microclimates, intensifying the urban heat island effect and degrading air quality.

• Mumbai's coastal road project
• Chennai's Pallikaranai marsh encroachment
• Bengaluru's lake reclamation for infrastructure