Land use keeps changing with time through human intervention
influenced by their needs and choices. Arid western Rajasthan in recent past
witnessed enormous changes in land use by creating irrigation potential through
sinking more wells and canal irrigation; cultivation of cash crops and mining
of minerals and oil. Based on the interpretation of topographical maps,
satellite images, long term land records
data and limited field check, the land use changes in Siwana-Pachpadra region
in Barmer district of Rajasthan are assessed and mapped. During the period from
1983–84 to 2017–18, the net area sown as well as irrigated area had
significantly increased while the area under fallow land and culturable waste
land are sharply declined. More emphasis is given to irrigated cash crops viz.
wheat,mustard, cumin, isabgol etc. However, with overexploitation of ground
water by sinking and deepening more tube wells,the irrigated
area along the flood plain of Luni river and in alluvial plains had declined
while new irrigated areas have come up in interdunal region in southwestern
part of the region around Padru. Acreage and production have specifically
increased under irrigated rabi crops while rainfed bajra and sesame crops have
shown declining trend. Effluents emanated from textile dyeing and printing industries
around Balotra-Bithooja and Jasol become a great menace causing environment and
ground water degradation.Creation of
mine spoil areas in another environmental problem. Drivers of land use change
and its environmental, economic and social impacts are examined and strategies
for integrated development of agricultural resources are highlighted