Droughts
Earthquakes
We have a largely monsoon
dependant irrigation network. An
erratic pattern, both low (less than
750 mm) and medium (750 - 1125
mm) makes 68 percent of the total
sown area vulnerable to periodic
droughts. Severe and rare droughts
occur in arid and semi-arid zones
once in almost every 8-9 years.
Drought is a perennial feature in
some states of India. 16 percent of
the country’s total area is drought
prone and approximately 50 million
people are annually affected by
droughts. In fact, persistent drought
with less than average rainfall over
a long period of time gives rise to
serious environmental problems.
The Himalayan mountain ranges
are considered to be the world’s
youngest fold mountain ranges.
The subterranean Himalayas are
geologically very active. In a span of
53 years four earthquakes exceeding
magnitude 8 have occurred in this
region. The peninsular part of
India comprises stable continental
crust. A