Question

Frequent floods in the plains of Northern India is due to
(a)Excessive rainfall
(b)Siltation of dams
(c)Deforestation in catchment areas
(d)Agriculture

Answer 1

Hint: Flood has become a burning issue in India mainly in the northern states like Bihar. Climate change and human activities played a great role in causing flood-related problems across India.

Complete answer:
Deforestation is the main reason for excessive and frequent floods in the plains of Northern India. In catchment areas, this has led to an increase in the stilt content of the river flow. Deforestation has caused erosion in western ghats, UP, and in Himachal Pradesh. In the state of Bihar, 76% of the population in the north is under the recurring threat of flood.

Additional Information: Due to excessive population and its results like urbanization, agricultural croplands, or mining activities, the forest areas across the whole world are decreasing rapidly. This is called Deforestation. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, the annual rate of deforestation is around 1.3million square kilometers per decade.
In India, it is mainly caused by environmental degradation by farmers, ranchers, loggers, and plantation corporations. The annual deforestation in India is estimated at 13.7 million hectares a year. It is resulting in floods in urban cities and villages mainly in the northern parts of India. It also affected the lives of wild animals and birds such as bats, sparrows, pigeons, and crows.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Deforestation in catchment areas".

Note: During 1901-2015, across central and northern Indian states such as Gujrat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam and parts of southern ghats like Goa, North Karnataka, and South Kerala, there has been a great rise in widespread rainfall events. This extreme rain event has become a reason large enough to cause floods in these areas.