The greening of Thar desert — A mirage of progress with deep fault lines

The Thar Desert, India's iconic sea of golden sand dunes and steadfast desert cultures, is undergoing a dramatic transformation—one that is as mesmerizing as it is misleading.

- RAKTIMAVA BOSE SREOSHI BANERJEE

Global headlines now highlight its unexpected metamorphosis, not into a harsher wasteland, but into a surprisingly green zone. Over the past two decades, satellite imagery has confirmed a 38% spike in vegetation, and once-arid townships are now framed by pockets of farmland and greenery.

At first glance, this appears to be a success story of climate resilience and human progress. Yet beneath this emerald veneer lies a fragile foundation. The desert may be turning green—but at serious ecological, climatic, and hydrological costs that threaten to undo the very gains that make this transformation seem remarkable.

WHY IS THE THAR TURNING GREEN?

This ecological shift owes its momentum to two intertwined forces: increased monsoon rainfall and widespread groundwater extraction.

India's northwest has witnessed a 64% rise in monsoon rainfall since 2001, extending the growing season for Kharif crops and enabling pastures to flourish. Seasonal rains have helped trigger a temporary surge in vegetation, giving the landscape a vibrant facelift.

However, groundwater extraction is the more powerful force behind lasting greening trends. About 55% of the annual vegetation growth and 67% of non-monsoon greenness is attributed to groundwater irrigation. A sprawling web of solar-powered tube-wells and pumps digs deep into aquifers, pulling out "fossil water" accumulated over centuries. This enables year-round farming and supports rapidly expanding settlements in otherwise inhospitable terrain. Between 1980 and 2015, cropland area in the Thar surged by 74%, while irrigated land expanded by 24%.