Lok Sabha Question No. 4916 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Desertification Control and Climate Adaptation in Arid Regions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4916

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Desertification Control and Climate Adaptation in Arid Regions

## 4916. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the extent of land under desertification in the country with the percentage increase during  the  last  decade,  State/UT-wise  along  with  the  measures  undertaken  under the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification;
- (b) the funds allocated and utilised for desertification control in Rajasthan during the last  three  years  along  with  coverage  under  afforestation  and  soil  conservation programmes, district-wise;
- (c) the climate adaptation  measures  implemented  in  Churu district in view  of temperatures  exceeding  50°C,  including  heat  action  plans,  water  conservation infrastructure and disaster preparedness initiatives; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  Climate  Resilience  Centres  in extreme heat zones and if so, the proposed timeline for inclusion of Churu district with focus on sustainable agriculture and land management?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) & (b) As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (2018-19) published  by  Space  Applications  Centre  (ISRO),  about  97.85  million hectares (29.7%) of the total geographical area of the country is undergoing  land  degradation/desertification.  The  State/UT  wise  details are provided at Annexure I.

The National Action Plan to Combat Desertification, 2023 emphasizes the need for a synergistic, efficient planning and implementation of the ecorestoration  initiatives  in  the  country  by  converging  all  afforestation schemes in the country to provide the much- needed impetus and focus on sustainable  management  of  forest  and  natural  resources  available  in  the specific  landscape,  and  an  effective  planning  and  a  wider  selection  of vulnerable and potentially vulnerable sites capable of supporting progressive and sustainable eco-restoration interventions. The Plan emphasizes on convergence of the various schemes for restoration of the degraded  land  and  does  not  have  any  provision  for  financial  assistance The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched a number  of  afforestation  schemes/programmes  which  also  address  the problem of land degradation and desertification, namely the Green India Mission  (GIM),  Nagar  Van  Yojana  (NVY),  School  Nursery  Yojana

(SNY), the Eco-Development Forces (EDF) scheme, the National Adaptation  Fund  for  Climate  Change  (NAFCC)  and  funds  under  the Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Management  and  Planning  Authority (CAMPA)  which  are  utilized  for  control of desertification through afforestation, water conservation and management in arid areas including Rajasthan.

The State Government of Rajasthan implements the Climate Change and Combating  Desertification  (CC&CD)  programme  for  combating  land degradation and desertification. The budget allocation under this programme  for  the  last  three  years  was  ₹11,747.24  lakh  in  2022-23, ₹17,701.41 lakh in 2023-24, and ₹13,228.65 lakh in 2024-25, respectively. The details as provided by the State are, given at Annexure -II.

- (c) & (d) Climate adaptation measures in arid regions including Churu, are implemented  through  convergence  of  Central  and  State  Government schemes.  These  include  preparation  and  implementation  of  plans  to reduce heat-related risks; water conservation interventions such as rainwater harvesting,  check  dams,  farm  ponds  and  rejuvenation of traditional water bodies; promotion of micro-irrigation and efficient water use practices; adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices including drought-tolerant  crop  varieties  and  crop  diversification;  afforestation, shelterbelt  and  sand  dune  stabilisation  to  address  land  degradation;  and strengthening of disaster preparedness, early warning systems and community  awareness.  At  present,  there  is  no specific  scheme  for establishment of dedicated Climate Resilience Centres. However, climate resilience and adaptation are being addressed under ongoing programmes such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Green India Mission (GIM), National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA),  and State Action Plans on Climate  Change (SAPCCs).  The  Government  continues  to support States, including Rajasthan, in enhancing climate resilience in vulnerable districts, including extreme heat-prone areas such as Churu, through integrated and convergent approaches.

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Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4916  regarding 'Desertification Control and Climate Adaptation in Arid Regions' raised by Shri Rahul Kaswan due for reply on 23.03.2026.

|    | State Name        |   Total Area under Desertification 2011-13 (Ha) |   Total Area under Desertification 2018-19 (Ha) |   Percentage Area under Desertification 2011-13 |   Percentage Area under Desertification 2018-19 |
|----|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1  | Andhra Pradesh    |                                         2298758 |                                         2378042 |                                           14.35 |                                           14.84 |
| 2  | Arunachal Pradesh |                                          153933 |                                          200683 |                                            1.84 |                                            2.4  |
| 3  | Assam             |                                          716596 |                                          834530 |                                            9.14 |                                           10.64 |
| 4  | Bihar             |                                          694809 |                                          746586 |                                            7.38 |                                            7.93 |
| 5  | Chhattisgarh      |                                         2211153 |                                         2306531 |                                           16.36 |                                           17.06 |
| 6  | Delhi             |                                           89868 |                                           91543 |                                           60.6  |                                           61.73 |
| 7  | Goa               |                                          192973 |                                          194877 |                                           52.13 |                                           52.64 |
| 8  | Gujarat           |                                        10261641 |                                        10248057 |                                           52.29 |                                           52.22 |
| 9  | Haryana           |                                          338964 |                                          364154 |                                            7.67 |                                            8.24 |
| 10 | Himachal Pradesh  |                                          239420 |                                          240300 |                                           43.01 |                                           43.11 |
| 11 | Jammu and Kashmir |                                         1064721 |                                         1129503 |                                           19.67 |                                           20.86 |
| 12 | Jharkhand         |                                         5498726 |                                         5482260 |                                           68.98 |                                           68.77 |
| 13 | Karnataka         |                                         6951000 |                                         6959847 |                                           36.24 |                                           36.29 |
| 14 | Kerala            |                                          379587 |                                          422299 |                                            9.77 |                                           10.87 |
| 15 | Madhya Pradesh    |                                         3804315 |                                         3859735 |                                           12.34 |                                           12.52 |
| 16 | Maharashtra       |                                        13825935 |                                        14306029 |                                           44.93 |                                           46.49 |
| 17 | Manipur           |                                          601959 |                                          612566 |                                           26.96 |                                           27.44 |
| 18 | Meghalaya         |                                          494880 |                                          557576 |                                           22.06 |                                           24.86 |
| 19 | Mizoram           |                                          187453 |                                          275827 |                                            8.89 |                                           13.08 |
| 20 | Nagaland          |                                          786678 |                                          828943 |                                           47.45 |                                           50    |
| 21 | Orissa            |                                         5304114 |                                         5359014 |                                           34.06 |                                           34.42 |
| 22 | Punjab            |                                          144653 |                                          167989 |                                            2.87 |                                            3.34 |
| 23 | Rajasthan         |                                        21526512 |                                        21237665 |                                           62.9  |                                           62.06 |
| 24 | Sikkim            |                                           78749 |                                           84610 |                                           11.1  |                                           11.92 |
| 25 | Tamil Nadu        |                                         1543898 |                                         1599981 |                                           11.87 |                                           12.3  |
| 26 | Telangana         |                                         3598856 |                                         3638508 |                                           31.34 |                                           31.68 |
| 27 | Tripura           |                                          437128 |                                          447378 |                                           41.69 |                                           42.66 |
| 28 | Uttar Pradesh     |                                         1528997 |                                         1549608 |                                            6.35 |                                            6.43 |
| 29 | Uttarakhand       |                                          648253 |                                          673894 |                                           12.12 |                                           12.6  |
| 30 | West Bengal       |                                         1733931 |                                         1784345 |                                           19.54 |                                           20.1  |
|    | Total             |                                        96404853 |                                        97854851 |                                           29.32 |                                           29.77 |

Source: Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India 2021 (https://vedas.sac.gov.in)

Annexure-II

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.  4916    regarding  'Desertification  Control  and  Climate  Adaptation  in  Arid Regions' raised by Shri Rahul Kaswan due for reply on 23.03.2026.

District wise details of plantation activities under various schemes in Rajasthan in last three years:

Rs. In lakhs

| Name of the Scheme/Programme:   | Name of the Scheme/Programme:   | Name of the Scheme/Programme:   | Climate Change and Combating Desertification   | Climate Change and Combating Desertification   |
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                           | District/ Year                  | 2022-23                         | 2023-24                                        | 2024-25                                        |
| 1                               | Ajmer                           | 78.51                           | 163.51                                         | 186.15                                         |
| 2                               | Barmer                          | 1017.37                         | 1266.52                                        | 1366.78                                        |
| 3                               | Bikaner                         | 1737.52                         | 2847.27                                        | 2159.12                                        |
| 4                               | Churu                           | 241.21                          | 262.89                                         | 126.2                                          |
| 5                               | Ganganagar                      | 1202.3                          | 1778.2                                         | 1435.81                                        |
| 6                               | Hanumangarh                     | 1192.73                         | 1320.5                                         | 1095.41                                        |
| 7                               | Jaisalmer                       | 2689.63                         | 4535.2                                         | 4195.4                                         |
| 8                               | Jalore                          | 117.4                           | 177.87                                         | 126.1                                          |
| 9                               | Jhunjhunu                       | 724.11                          | 864.88                                         | 380.95                                         |
| 10                              | Jodhpur                         | 371.21                          | 793.44                                         | 674.11                                         |
| 11                              | Nagaur                          | 1114.11                         | 1588.65                                        | 876.12                                         |
| 12                              | Pali                            | 4.98                            | 4.33                                           | 3.14                                           |
| 13                              | Sikar                           | 1143.35                         | 1287.78                                        | 536.24                                         |
|                                 | Total                           | 11634.43                        | 16891.04                                       | 13161.53                                       |

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