Northwestern India's Land and Water Woes

Northwestern India's Trans-Gangetic Plains (TGP) are vital for the country's food supply, growing lots of wheat and rice. But this area is in trouble. Land is getting worse, and droughts are becoming more common. This is a big deal because not many studies have looked at both problems together. A recent study used satellite data and computer tools to check the health of the land. They found that from 2001 to 2022, the amount of land covered by buildings and roads increased by 214%. This happened because grasslands, wetlands, and farmland were taken over. This change is bad for nature, as it reduces the number of different plants and animals, makes it harder for the soil to hold water, and lowers the amount of carbon it can store. The study also found that 2. 93% of the area lost soil organic carbon, which is bad for the environment. Even though the amount of food grown in the area has stayed about the same, droughts have been a big problem. In some years, like 2002, 2009, and 2014, more than 75% of the area had moderate to severe droughts. These droughts were caused by weather patterns like El Niño and by using too much groundwater. The western and central parts of the TGP are especially at risk. To fix these problems, experts say we need better ways to save soil and water. Using climate-smart farming and planting more trees could help make the area more resilient and sustainable in the long run. This study shows how useful satellite data can be for checking the health of large areas of land. It also makes a strong case for taking action to protect the environment and make it more resilient.