What are the problems faced by the Thar Desert?
- The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan.
- This desert comprises a very dry part, the Marusthali region in the west, and a semidesert region in the east with fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation.
- Most of the desert is covered by huge shifting sand dunes that receive sediments from the alluvial plains and the coast. The sand is highly mobile due to strong winds occurring before the onset of the monsoon..
- The Thar Desert is the most densely populated desert in the world, with a population density of 83 people per km
- The region faces frequent droughts.
- Overgrazing due to high animal populations, wind and water erosion, mining and other industries have resulted in serious land degradation.
- The living standard of the people in the desert is low. They cannot afford other fuels like gas, kerosene etc. Fire wood is their main fuel, of the total consumption of wood about 75 percent is firewood. The forest cover in desert is low.