Thar Desert

Question 1

Challenges:

50

100

intermittent

650

3500

Answer 1

• over 50C
• less than 100 mm rainfall a year
• River Luni has intermittent flow (occasionally dries up)
• Indira Gandhi Canal is 650 km long
• 3500 km of irrigated land allowing commercial farming around Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.

Question 2

Opportunities:

thermal
2001
solar
oil field

Sanu limestone

1958

tens of thousands

Festival

Answer 2

• thermal energy plant at Giral
• 2001 Jaisalmer wind park (largest in India)
• Bhalari solar power used fro water treatment
• oilfield in Bharmer district could transform local economy.
• At Jaisalmer The Sanu limestone, main source of limestone for India’s steel industry.
• 1958 construction of the Indira Ghandi Canal - irrigated land = wheat & cotton
• Tens of thousands visit each year. Mainly from Pakistan.
• Annual desert festival very popular.