Thar Desert Essay ⋆ Environment Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

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Located in South Asia, the Thar Desert straddles the international border between western India and southeastern Pakistan covering an area of approximately 92,162 square miles (238,700 square kilometers). On the Indian side, most of this hot desert lies in the state of Rajasthan, but some parts extend into the states of Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab as well. In Pakistan, it is part of the Sindh and Punjab provinces. It is bounded by the Sutlej River in the northwest, the Aravalli mountains in the east, the Indus River in the west, and the Rann of Kutch (a salt marsh) in the south. Average annual rainfall in the Thar ranges between 6 to 31 cubic inches (100-500 millimeters) from the west eastward. It is an inhospitable desert with almost 10 percent consisting of shifting sand dunes and the other 90 percent of rocky outcrops, compacted salt-lake bottoms, and interdunal and fixed dune areas. Temperatures fluctuate from highs near 50 degrees C in May and June to as low as 5 degrees C in January.

With about 700 species of flora, of which 107 are grasses, the Thar is rich in biodiversity. However, there are few indigenous species of trees and strong winds facilitate desertification, which threatens the region’s predominantly agricultural economy. According to the Central Arid Zone Research Institute in Jodhpur, India, wind erosion in the Thar can be checked through sand dune stabilization and shelterbelt plantation. Dune stabilization programs have involved plantation of naturally growing shrubs with extensive root networks such as Phog (Calligonum polygonoides), but have more commonly included a range of exotic species of eucalyptus, acacia, and cassia species, a few of which have proven to be pernicious invasives, causing unanticipated effects from well-meaning policy. Erecting shelterbelts around crop fields protects young seedlings from sand blasts and hot desiccating winds and reduces the loss of moisture from the fields.

The Thar’s fauna includes threatened species like the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) and the great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), as well as other species such as chinkara (Gazelle bennettii), caracal (Felix caracal), and the desert fox (Vulpes bengalensis). Recently, land use changes and agricultural intensification have brought problems to the region. As pasture has declined under the plow, livestock herds of the region have lost much of their traditional grazing land, leading to increased migration and some overgrazing. In India, almost 60 percent of the Thar is farmland and 30 percent is open pastureland. Intense grazing of livestock has altered the ecosystem by affecting soil fertility and destroying native vegetation.

The region relies on the Indira Gandhi Canal Project for irrigation and drinking water supply, but also increasingly upon direct tapping of groundwater through deep tubewells. As a result, groundwater levels are falling precipitously in some areas. Frequent droughts have also prompted the locals to devise ingenious water harvesting techniques such as kunds (covered underground tanks)-a traditional response to the scarcity of potable water exacerbated by the high salinity of groundwater, especially in western Rajasthan.

With a population density of about 263 persons per square kilometer for the entire Thar region, it is one of the most densely populated deserts. Multiple ethnic and religious groups make it culturally rich, with a variety of music, poetry, and architectural styles. It is home to Hindus, Muslims, Jains, and Sikhs on the Indian side while in Pakistan, Sindhis and Kohlis (both Hindus and Muslims) are the main ethnic groups.

Pokhran, in Rajasthan, has also served as the test site for India’s nuclear programs. Underground testing of nuclear weapons was carried out in Pokhran in 1974 and 1998.

Bibliography:

Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain, , Dying Wisdom: Rise, Fall and Potential of India’s Traditional Water Harvesting Systems (Center for Science and Environment, 2003);
Robyn Davidson, Desert Places (Viking, 1996);
S. Mathur, Arid Lands, People, and Resources (RBSA Publishers, 1994);
C. Sharma, Thar, the Great Indian Desert (Lustre Press, 1998).