Discuss the causes for salinity ingress along with its various consequences and potential solutions.

Causes: i High cyclone landfall onto the surface causing salinity in one coastal areas ii Reducing the groundwater level by its overuse leading to increase in salinity iii Rise in sea level due to global warming. iv Construction and mining activities Consequences of salinity ingress: i Renders the agricultural land in coastal areas unfit for crop production. ii Natural freshwater sources – rivers and lakes become unfit for human consumption iii Increased inland salinity – deterioration of soil. iv Changes in salinity level of freshwater – disruption in species ecology leading to biodiversity loss v Reduced productivity of fisheries sector and agriculture – economic loss.

Potential solutions to salinity ingress: i Mangrove plantations across the coastal regions – salt-tolerant and economic benefits from wood and biodiversity. ii Reducing the carbon footprint to reduce the hazards of cyclone and sea level water rise. iii Growing of salt-tolerant crops in saline soils. Eg Millet cultivation iv Promoting shrimp farming in lands rendered useless due to high salinity Eg Punjab v Promoting sea weed farming. vi Rainwater harvesting structures creation to improve groundwater level. vii Structural constructions such as – seawalls to prevent ingress.