(W) Over abstraction in Kerala, India Flashcards
Describe the location of Kerala
south-west India
on the coast
Why is over abstraction taking place in Kerala? (4)
(cheaper for Coca cola)
- cheap labour is easily available
- lots of raw materials to use for manufacture
- low tax on products, so more can be made for less
- lower environmental protection
facts about Coca cola’s water usage
- 510,000 L of water is used a day
- groundwater levels have dropped from 12m to 35m below ground
franchise
a group allowed to carry out certain commercial activities
market capitalisation
where one product/company is the most popular
commodity
a raw material that can be bought or sold
boreholes
holes drilled in the ground to collect water
water-table
the current upper level of saturated ground
over-abstraction
more water being extracted than the environment can deal with
aquifer
an underground source of water
vendors
people who sell goods locally
groundwater
water stored underground, in rocks
dark-zone
an area that is abandoned due to depleted water resources
social problems (3)
- wells are empty, villagers have to walk further each day to find water, costing them time they need to work or look after their families
- no water is left in the area, so villages become abandoned/dark zones as people leave, and the sense of community is lost
- suicide rates for farmers have increased as their harvests have dropped by 40%
economic problems (2)
- farmers have no water for their crops, so they have no food to feed their families or to sell, so income drops
- street vendors close down, people lose jobs and income so become poorer
