INDIA’S WESTERN DESERT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 14

INDIA’S WESTERN DESERT

Plan To Make Land Fertile FORESTRY. PROGRAMME (From a Reuter Correspondent) NEW DELHI. An intensive campaign to check advance of India’s great western desert in Rajastan and ultimately to change it into fertile agricultural land, is under way. The campaign will take many years, but success could mean India’s climate might be modified. Work is going ahead at top speed with such projects as the Bhakra Nangal hydro-electric and irrigation project. The first phase—to divert the Sutlej river into one of the biggest irrigation systems in the world—was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr Nehru, recently. The waters will be brought right to the Rajastan Desert.

At the same time, the Indian Air Force is dropping specially-prepared seedlings on a small belt where the Rajastan Desert borders on Pakistan. The seeds <will grow into plants and shrubs, which thrive in desert conditions. They will make a windbreak and stop erosion. India’s plan to make a “defence line” consisting of 500 square miles of forest running from south-east to north-west across 80,000-square mile Rajastan Desert. The line will be at right angles to the prevailing winds, as they blow in from the Arabian Sea. At present the desert is advancing east toward Delhi and Agra at the rate of 32,000 acres a year, converting fertile land into a ravined and eroded trapt. In this area, avenues of trees are being planted along the highways and afforestation in increasing tempo. In addition to forest trees, hardy fruit trees are being planted. Work of building these wind breaks is done in blocks so that thei forest belt is gradually built up. Forests need constants and careful attention so that the desert does not destroy them before they make an effective barrier. Tube wells are being sunk to provide water for irrigation.

If success is achieved, climate may be modified, for forests might encourage rainfall, which, in turn, would help further afforestation and agricultural development. Blazing heat of the desert would give way to milder temperatures and the devastating winds would be conquered.