Caring for the Thar

Photo: Prasad
In the present, the top three environmental issues facing the Thar are water availability, land quality and dust emission. While dwindling water reserves call for urgent attention to water management, threats of global warming and population pressure are not only deteriorating the land condition, but also increasing the sand mobility and atmospheric dust load.

Abstract: In the present, the top three environmental issues facing the Thar are water availability, land quality and dust emission. While dwindling water reserves call for urgent attention to water management, threats of global warming and population pressure are not only deteriorating the land condition, but also increasing the sand mobility and atmospheric dust load.

The author is  Principal Scientist & Head of Division, Division of Natural Resources & Environment, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, Rajasthan. amalkar@cazri.res.in