September 28, 2006

After three years of a devastating dry spell, Thar has received a substantial amount of rainfall this year. Prior to the monsoon season, the desert faced drought-like conditions which had forced people to migrate to the barrage areas along with their livestock. After the rains the people have returned to Thar.

Thar is quite fertile and has diverse flora and fauna. The green look which the desert wears after the monsoon is no different from that of the northern valleys. The brown sand dunes have turned lush green, which are not only pleasant to look at, they also stabilise the sand dunes to prevent further erosion.

After the rains a high turnover of tourists has been recorded in the area, but the town lacks basic facilities for tourists. Javed Jabbar, global vice president of the World Conservation Union, which has been working in the area for social development for the last 21 years, says there is an immense potential for tourism in Thar, but he cautions, “It should be ensured that ecology and nature are not disturbed by the promotion of tourism.”

The rains have benefited the ecology of Thar as vegetation is thriving with a wide range of plants and trees; a wide variety of birds can also be seen in abundance. The District Government, Tharparkar, has passed several resolutions to conserve peacocks and indigenous trees in Thar.

Rainwater has been stored in traditional water ponds called tarais and household tankas. This will also contribute significantly in raising the subsoil water level.

The monsoon period starts from June every year and goes on till September. Rainfall in the region is quite erratic, which keeps Tharis on tenterhooks, as their livelihood is highly dependent on rains. From June to September four rainfalls, with the interval of 20 days, are essential for achieving better agricultural yields.

For a long time agricultural practices in the area were limited to traditional methods. However, the recent years have seen mechanisation of agriculture in the region, which will have far reaching consequences on the ecology of Thar. The use of tractor for cultivation for consecutive years has negative effects on the production capacity of the soil. The blade of the tractor plough goes deep into the sandy soil destroying useful vegetation.

Tharis are known as one of the most environment friendly people, as they live close to nature and not only value it but conserve it conscientiously. They make wise use of the resources, as they know that if it does not rain their lives would become miserable. They do not waste water and ensure that every single drop is used judiciously.

Thar is called the land of beauty and mystery, where poverty and resources exist together. However, with the discovery of huge coal reserves under the sand dunes of Thar, one anticipates a brighter future for the Tharis.

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