Country’s wasteland declined more than 5 lakh hectares during 2005-2008 with many States reclaiming the infertile area for industrial purpose, creation of plantation cover and agricultural purpose, a national wasteland atlas — the first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the Rural Development Ministry in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) — released on Wednesday said. Wasteland during 2005-08 declined by 3.2 million hectare in as many as 21 States with Rajasthan topping the list by changing 10,264 sq km of wasteland in non-wasteland category. Read More
