Sustainable Development - International School of Public Leadership

THE STORY OF KUTCH
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In the 19th century, a devastating earthquake struck Kutch on June 16, 1819.
Before the earthquake, Sindhu River flowed in the region. Kutch was a green land
which produced paddy. Agriculture and livestock flourished.
After the earthquake, the Sindhu River changed its course and disappeared from
Kutch. The earthquake caused a nine- metre vertical displacement, which came to
be known as the Allah Bund. Sea water made huge ingress into the land through
this displacement, converting the entire area into a huge saline desert which
came to be known as the little and great Rann of Kutch. The vegetation cover was
slowly lost with high occurrence of famines.
Crops failed, drinking and irrigation water became scarce, health and sanitation
were affected. Survival became difficult in this arid land. Farmers left agriculture
and land soon became fallow. This resulted in large-scale human and cattle
migration over the years, a trend which continued in the last century.
The situation was changed with persistent efforts by people who were determined
to make the desert green again.