Barmer, April 7 -- India's desertification crisis is deepening, and Rajasthan continues to remain at the centre of concern, with over 62 per cent of its geographical area affected by land degradation despite a marginal recent decline. The Union Government informed the Lok Sabha that nearly 30% of the country's total land area is now impacted by desertification, with degraded land expanding by around 1.45 million hectares over the past decade. The issue was raised by Bikaner MP Rahul Kaswan during the last week of the parliamentary session, seeking details on national and state-level trends, financial allocations, and mitigation efforts in extreme heat zones such as Churu. Responding on behalf of the government, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh cited data from the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas (2018-19), prepared by ISRO Space Applications Centre. According to the report, desertification in India increased from 96.40 million hectares (29.32%) in 2011-13 to 97.85 million hectares (29.77%) in 2018-19, indicating a steady upward trend despite ongoing conservation programmes. State-wise data underscores stark regional disparities. While Rajasthan remains the most affected, other states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra also report high levels of land degradation. Smaller regions like Delhi and Jharkhand show high proportional impact, while northeastern states including Mizoram and Meghalaya are witnessing a rising trend. For Rajasthan, the Centre highlighted targeted financial support under the Climate Change and Combating Desertification programme. Allocations rose from over Rs.11,700 lakh in 2022-23 to Rs.17,700 lakh in 2023-24, before declining to around Rs.13,200 lakh in 2024-25. Major interventions have been concentrated in arid districts such as Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer and Sri Ganganagar. Addressing extreme heat conditions, especially in Churu where temperatures often cross 50degC, the government said adaptation strategies are being implemented through convergence of schemes. These include water conservation, micro-irrigation, promotion of drought-resistant crops, afforestation drives and disaster preparedness measures. Responding to the issue, renowned environmentalist Dr Bhuvnesh Jain said, "Desertification is a silent crisis-slow in progression but deeply damaging in impact. It gradually erodes soil fertility, depletes water resources, and weakens the ecological base that supports agriculture and livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable regions like Rajasthan."...