Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Wasteland of the country, 13/12/2019

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Wasteland of the country, 13/12/2019. As per the wastelands Atlas of India-zolg, nearly 1/6th of total geographical area of the country is a wasteland' As per this Atlas, an estimation of wastelands in the country indicates decrease in wastelands in 19 States & union Territories and increase of wastelands in 11 States. Major decrease has been observed in the state of Rajasthan (4,803.56 sq. km.) followed by uttar Pradesh (l'082'29 sq' km')' and Bihar (1.130.07 sq. km.).However, there is increase reported in wastelands in the states of Odisha (465'82 sq' km')' followed by Assam (406.69sq.km.),Telangana(377.79sq.km.)andChhattisgarh(373.54sq. km.).