World Soil Day 2019

World Soil Day is observed on December 5 every year across the world to bring the focus to the soil that nurtures us. Soil erosion is a major threat to the planet's soils. Soil erosion is the removal of the fertile top soil and if that goes away due to water, wind and tillage. Soil erosion affects soil health and productivity affecting quality of food. It also decreases crop yield. The theme of World Soil Day 2019 is "Stop soil erosion, save our future". The idea is to raise awareness on the importance of soil for healthy ecosystems and well-being of humans.

World Soil Day 2019: Facts on soil and soil erosion as shared by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations

It takes 1,000 years to produce just 2-3 cm of soil.

Over 33 per cent of the Earth's soils are already degraded.

Around 90 per cent of the Earth's soil could be degraded by 2050.

WATER CONTAMINATION

Ministry of Jal Shakti tabled data on water contamination in Parliament.

About:

Among rural habitations in Indian states, 55,511 face quality issues with drinking water.

As of November 27 this year, 3.22 per cent of rural habitations across all states and UTs, accounting for 3.73 per cent of the population, were consuming drinking water with quality issues.

Iron is the most common contaminant of drinking water, with over 18,000 rural habitations affected, followed by salinity that affects roughly 13,000 rural habitations, arsenic (12,000), fluoride (nearly 8,000) and heavy metal.

Rajasthan has the highest number of rural habitations affected by contamination overall, at 16,833. Most of these – 12,182 – are affected by salinity in drinking water, at 12,182.

West Bengal has the highest number of rural habitations affected by arsenic contamination, at 6,207, followed by Assam (4,125)

Assam has the highest number of rural habitations affected by iron contamination, at 5,113, followed by West Bengal (5,082).

States and UTs that are not affected by any of these contaminants include Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu.