Rainwater-Harvesting:Utmost Need of Thar Desert

Rajasthan is the largest state of India and accounts about 5.5% population of India. The total population of the State was 6.86 crores including 1.70 crores of urban population (24.87%) and 5.15 crores (75.13) of rural population (2011 census). The population below poverty line was estimated to 152.80 lakh and about 15.01% of the rural population and 24.36% of the urban population. Literacy of rural population was estimated at 55.92 per cent compared to 76.89 per cent for urban population (2011 census). It covers 10.4% of India’s total area. The state Rajasthan is situated on the north western side of the India, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert (also known as the “Rajasthan Desert” and “Great Indian Desert”). The Marwar region of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan comprises seven districts viz., Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Nagaur, Pali, Jalore and Sirohi. It is the most densely populated arid region in the world Desert. Apart from this, the cattle population is also very high with a density of 80 cattle per sq km. Thus, there is enormous pressure on the natural resources such as water and fodder.