Statement I: The hills with dense vegetation cover do not experience heavy soil erosion. Statement II : The vegetation cover helps - infiltration of rainwater and binding of soils.

Statement I is correct as dense vegetation cover significantly mitigates soil erosion on hill slopes by protecting the soil surface from the direct impact of raindrops and reducing the velocity of surface runoff [2]. Statement II provides the scientific reasoning for this phenomenon: vegetation increases the infiltration of rainwater into the soil through root channels and biological activity, which reduces the volume of erosive surface runoff. Furthermore, root systems physically bind soil particles together, providing mechanical reinforcement and increasing the shear strength of the slope. The absence of such cover leads to reduced infiltration, accelerated runoff, and severe erosion [2]. Therefore, Statement II is the correct explanation for why hills with dense vegetation do not experience heavy soil erosion, as it details the mechanisms of water stabilization and physical restraint.

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > EXISTING POSITION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS > p. 38
2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 3: Terrestrial Ecosystems > 3.3.3, Impact of grazing > p. 27