Desertification affects over one-fourth Geographical Area of India: Report

A report submitted to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification by the Environment Ministry in fourth week of April 2013 described that one fourth of India’s geographical area is undergoing the process of desertification despite of the efforts made by it to combat the problem.

India has a total geographical area of 328 million hectares and the problem of land degradation and drought continues in the country. As per the findings of the report submitted to United Nation, desertification, land degradation and drought has hit about 8 lakh square kilometer of Indian Territory and covers almost all states and union territories of the country.

The total area of India that is undergoing the process of degradation is about 105.48 million hectares that constitutes of about 32.07 percent of total land area of India. The basic reason for such a major challenge lies in the area of land use planning, management of waste and degraded land and efficient use of water resources.