Question

Why were the Delhi Sultans interested in cutting down forests? Does deforestation occur for the same reasons today?

Answer 1

Hint: The Delhi Sultans were interested in cutting down forests for their own profits in order to make more money, not only this but their profits were also related to land.

Complete answer:
The Delhi Sultans wanted to extend cultivation in order to collect more land revenue. Thus, they ordered the cutting of forests. Also,The Delhi Sultans were highly interested in cutting down forests so that they could provide land to the peasants as well as carry out agricultural practices.

Plus, new fortresses and towns had been established in order to protect trade routes and to promote regional trade as well. They also cleared forests for safeguarding their frontiers as well as the quick movement of their army. The Delhi Sultans also wanted to expand their kingdom that was till then restricted to the Delhi Sultanate.

No, deforestation does not take place for similar reasons now. Nowadays it occurs for additional land for habitation,road construction, road expansion, industries, and urbanization etc. Today forests are cut for the extension of agriculture and establishment of industrial units.

Note: The Delhi Sultans had cleared the forests in the Ganga-Yamuna doab as well as gave these lands to the peasants so that agriculture could be encouraged. Not only this, but they had also formed new fortresses as well as towns within these lands in order to protect trade routes and also to promote regional trade.