The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Land degradation refers to the temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land. In India, the causes of degradation vary regionally, driven by factors such as agricultural practices, deforestation, mining, and industrial activities.
Statement 1 is Correct:
Over-irrigation is responsible for land degradation primarily in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Excessive irrigation leads to waterlogging, which increases soil salinity and alkalinity. As water evaporates, it brings salts from the subsurface to the topsoil through capillary action, rendering the soil infertile.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
Mining is a significant cause of land degradation in mineral-rich states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, where excavation leads to deforestation and soil erosion. However, in Punjab and Haryana, the primary cause of land degradation is over-irrigation and intensive agriculture, not mining.
Statement 3 is Correct:
Industrial effluents are a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of India. The discharge of untreated or partially treated industrial waste introduces toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the soil, degrading its quality and contaminating groundwater resources.
Key Takeaway:
The primary cause of land degradation in the intensive agriculture belts (Punjab, Haryana) is over-irrigation (leading to salinity), whereas mining is the dominant cause in the mineral belts of Central and Eastern India.