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Thar Desert (Opportunities for Development (Mineral Extraction (Limestone …
Thar Desert
Opportunities for Development
Mineral Extraction
Limestone - at Jaisalmar the Sanu limestone is the main source of limestone for the Indian steel industry
Gypsum - used in making plaster and cement for construction industry
Feldspar - used to make ceramics
Phospherite - used for making fertiliser
Kaolin - used as a whitener in paper
Marble - quarried near Jodhpur to be used in the construction industry
Tourism
Beautiful landscapes
Desert safaris on camels based at Jaisalmar
Desert Festival - annual winter event
Energy
Coal - extensive lignite coal deposits and a thermal energy plant has been constructed at Giral
Oil - large oilfield discovered in the Barmer district which could transform local economy
Wind - the Jaisalmer Wind Park was constructed in 2001 (India's largest wind farm)
Solar - with its sunny, cloudless skies, the Thar Desert offers ideal conditions for solar power generation. At Bhaleri solar power is used in water treatment
Farming
Commercial farming - made possible by irrigation such as the construction of the Indira Ghandi Canal in 1958
Crops grown such as
Wheat
Cotton
Pulses
Sesame
Maize
Mustard
Subsistence farming - most people living in the desert graze animals on grassy areas and cultivate vegetables and fruit trees
Challenges for Development
Extreme Temperatures
Working outside in heat of day is hard for people like farmers
High rates of evaporation lead to water shortages which affect people as well as plants and animals
Livestock need shade to protect them from the intense sun
Water Supply
Reasons for Water Shortages
High rates of evaporation
Low annual rainfall
High temperatures
Strong winds
Sources of Water
Ponds
Tobas (natural)
Johads (man-made)
Rivers and streams
River Luni (intermittent))
Rann (marshy area)
Aquifiers
Indira Ghandi Canal
Constructed in 1958 with total length of 650 km
Provides drinking water to many in the desert
Commercial farming now flourishes
Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are the main areas to benefit with over 3,500 square kilometers of land under irrigation
Accessibility
Many areas accessibly only by camel
Public transport involves overladen buses
Limited road network
Vast barren areas
Extreme weather
Location
North-west India
State of Rajasthan
Pakistan
Background Information
Most densely populated desert in world
200,000 square kilometers in size