Q1. What is the main objective of the ‘Mission Butterfly’ project in Nainital?
- Increase butterfly population in the region
- Promote eco-tourism in Uttarakhand
- Scientific disposal of garbage to protect Naini Lake
- Promote flower-based horticulture
Correct Option: 3. Scientific disposal of garbage to protect Naini Lake.
Explanation: Mission Butterfly is an initiative under the Nainital Lake Conservation Project. Its goal is to ensure door-to-door waste collection, especially in areas surrounding Naini Lake, which is the only source of drinking water for the town.
Residents, schools, and hotels cooperate by segregating waste and sending biodegradable material to compost pits. This system helps reduce pollution, protect water quality, and sustain tourism.
Q2. What does the term “Spring Sanctuary Development” refer to in the context of the Himalayas?
- Constructing dams on Himalayan rivers
- Building tourist facilities around springs
- Creating temples near water sources
- Protecting and recharging spring water sources
Correct Option: 4. Protecting and recharging spring water sources.
Explanation: Many Himalayan villages rely on natural springs as their primary source of water. However, unregulated development, deforestation, and climate change have caused many springs to dry up.
Spring Sanctuary Development involves:
• Mapping recharge zones
• Preventing construction in critical areas
• Using rainwater harvesting and bio-engineering methods
• Engaging the local community for maintenance
This ensures long-term water security and ecological balance.
Q3. Which of the following is a successful community-based tourism model in the Indian Himalayas?
- Eco-trekking in Manali
- Himalayan Homestays in Ladakh
- Ropeway tourism in Darjeeling
- Houseboat tourism in Srinagar
Correct Option: 2. Himalayan Homestays in Ladakh
Explanation: Himalayan Homestays is a community-based ecotourism model initiated in Ladakh. Local families host tourists, providing them with food, stay, and cultural experiences.
This model:
• Offers sustainable income to locals
• Reduces pressure on the environment by spreading tourism beyond major towns
• Promotes conservation of wildlife, especially the snow leopard, by creating economic incentives for its protection.
Q4. What major risk does road construction in the Himalayas pose without proper environmental planning?
- Increase in tourism revenue
- Reduction in CO₂ emissions
- Slope instability and landslides
- Decrease in rainfall
Correct Option: 3. Slope instability and landslides
Explanation: Improper road construction in the Himalayas — especially on steep slopes — can trigger landslides, soil erosion, and slope failure. These risks are amplified due to:
• Lack of drainage planning
• Poor disposal of excavated material
• Absence of slope stabilization techniques
Therefore, use of bio-engineering, ridge alignments, and geological assessments is essential for ecologically safe roads.
Q5. Which of the following is a recommended practice for sustainable tourism in the IHR?
- Allowing vehicles up to sacred lakes
- Unlimited entry of tourists
- Construction of large hotels in core zones
- Linking tourism with local art and culture
Correct Option: 4. Linking tourism with local art and culture
Explanation: Sustainable tourism in the IHR focuses on benefiting local communities and protecting the environment.
Linking tourism with local art, craft, cuisine, and festivals:
• Generates income for locals
• Preserves cultural identity
• Reduces the dependence on high-impact commercial tourism
This approach is encouraged under policies like Sikkim’s Ecotourism Policy, which balances tourism with conservation.