The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
Land degradation in India is driven by various anthropogenic factors, the nature and intensity of which vary significantly across different geographical regions based on land use patterns.
- Statement 1 is Correct: In arid and semi-arid regions such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, overgrazing is one of the primary causes of land degradation. Continuous grazing removes the vegetative cover, exposing the topsoil to wind and water erosion.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: In the agricultural belts of Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, land degradation is primarily caused by over-irrigation rather than deforestation. Over-irrigation leads to waterlogging, which causes an increase in soil salinity and alkalinity.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Mining is the main cause of land degradation in mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. In the Gangetic plains, land degradation is largely attributed to intensive agricultural practices, alkaline/saline soil formation due to irrigation, and urbanization, not mining.
Key Takeaway: The causes of land degradation are region-specific: overgrazing in Western India, over-irrigation in the North-Western plains (Green Revolution belt), and mining/deforestation in the Chota Nagpur plateau region.