Development Opportunities

• Mining:

  • the desert has valuable reserves of minerals such as feldspar, phospherite and gypsum
  • These minerals are used to produce a range of things from cement to fertilisers and are therefore valuable.
• Energy Generation -

  • Wind energy is also used to generate electricity. A wind farm consisting of 75 wind turbines has the capacity to produce 60 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
  • This energy is used to clean water supplies contaminated with salt (desalination) or provide for the increasing population
• Farming:

  • irrigation in the Thar Desert has made commercial arable farming viable.
  • Producing crops such as wheat and cotton has created many jobs and generated income for the local economy.
• Tourism -

  • the Thar Desert National Park attracts many visitors who want to see some of the 120 species found there.
  • Tourists explore the desert with local guides on camels.
  • Tourism is an important source of income and creates many jobs for local people.
  • The multiplier effect of tourism creates many development opportunities.