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LAND TRANSFORMATION- A BRIEF REVIEW AND IT’S STUDY IN
HYDERABAD REGION PERIPHERAL
Prof. S. Padmaja 1
Dr.T. Pratigna 2
1.Asst.Professor Deapertment of Geoinformatics,Telangana University
2.Dept. of Geography, OU,Hyderabad.
Land transformation refers to radical changes in land use and
cover, usually over a long term (Nancy G etal) by man induced changes. Land
transformation attributed to both natural and human factors ,more due to natural
processes is imminent due to demand for land occupancy by rising human numbers
followed by economic development .However ,when there is an urgency in the
population growth and economic development factors ,there is an unwanted land
transformation leading to unsustainability affecting the environment ecological balance.
This is being evidenced more avidly around city regions ,which
need to be tackled firmly if urban growth process needs to be harmonious –in the
context of this ,the dynamic land transformation around rapidly growing Hyderabad
region is evaluated to identity the positive and negative impacts of such land
transformation.
a) Richter H.G has attributed historical development and strong influences of
technological , social and political alterations during the last four decades over types and
pattern of land use in GDR. Though land use alterations is a basic feature of land
transformation but land intensification is the main type of land transformation in all
sections of regional development ,leading to by effects like pollution, contamination,
blocking and devastating of renewable natural resources .Therefore according to him
.land transformation must be accompanied by development of a dense network of
protective measures and reservation areas and in addition by different types for multiple
utilization of renewable natural resources .
b) Baldev Sahai in his presidential address has stated that natural causes transform land
slowly ,but what is assuming alarming proportions is the land transformation being
brought about by man ,especially due to agricultural and mining activities in rural scape
followed by built up activity in urban scape .
c) Wolman and Fournier have laid stress on various agricultural practices leading to land
transformation. According to him, the first type of land transformation was the
disturbance of natural vegetation. This is furthened by improvement in infrastructure like
laying of roads ,canals and railways. Use and management of pesticides and other
materials including adoption of integrated pest management system markedly influences
land and its transformation .Mechanisation in agriculture too seem to have contributed
siginificantly to land transformation . According to the another population change war,
technological revolutions and a variety of social changes throughout history have resulted
in profound transformation of the land introduction of inorganic fertilizers to soils can
cause immense land transformation.
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d) Bernhard Lucke etal explain the process of land transformation ,through drivers of
land transformation which all increase habitat loss and isolation yet impose their own
unique alterations on the landscape which include perforation, dissection,
fragmentation,shrinkage,and alteration.
e) Ayyad Mohammad :A talk about land transformation in western Mediterranean
desert of Egypt attributing the change mainly due to grazing rain fed farming and
irrigated farming .Grazing led to lower soil stability and abundance of plants and above
soil invertebrates. Irrigation resulted in water logging and salinisation formation of calcic
horizons, decrease in soil organic matter and soluble N2 and in increase of above and
below soil biota-A comparison of the distribution of vegetation and land use in one of the
sectors in 1964 and 1981 ,using maps based on aerial photographs and ground truth data
;indicated remarkable changes in areas of rain fed farming and in vegetation composition
due to over grazing.
Land transformation refers to radical changes in land use
and cover, usually over a long term (Nancy Golubeiwski 2008)has assumed unparalleled
significance because of its relevance to applied land use practices and management
(Bryan C.Pijanowski and others of Michigan state university) have attempted a land
transformation model with a GIS tool. In their study on Saginaw bay watershed have
stated that land use changes is one of the most critical dynamic elements of ecosystem
due to human induced changes to the land resulting in changes to pattern and processes
in ecosystem such as alterations to the hydro geochemistry ,vegetation cover ,species
diversity and changes in the economies of a community .
Land Transformation Model is inclusive of socio economic
driving variables comprising of population change ,economies of land ownership,
transportation ,agriculture economics and locations of employment environment driving
variables include abiotic ,such as distribution of soil types and elevation and biotic ,such
as a locations of endangered and threatened species ,or the attractiveness of certain types
of vegetation pattern in the landscape for development.
Nancy Golubeiwski et al have undermined the importance
of Anthropogeny in land transformation. Frances Harris and chasea Twyman (2003)
In an editorial ;point out the adaptive management of the
environment in response to external asa well as internal stimuli such as the role of state
legacies of history ,market forces and urbanization .These stimuli act as drivers of change
and act alongside the need to secure livelihoods.
Aggrey Daniel Maina Thuo, in a special issue on
agriculture raises the issue of community and social responses to land use transformations
in the Nairobi rural –urban Fringe of Kenya . According to him rapid urban population
growth means an increasing demand for urban land ,which is available in the rural-urban
fringe ,partly due to low land prices ,high rents at the core of the cities and legal
flexibility in land use planning in rural urban fringe .The conversion of agriculture land to
residential uses is leading to rapid transformations in the agricultural productivity ,spatial
and social structure land ownership and land market in these areas selling in parcels of
land have affected land holders and in most cases have made their families destitute.
In a study on ecological and socio-economic
consequences of land transformation in alpine regions and ancestral agriculture activities,
ongoing transitions in land use ,climatic changes ,air pollution and socio-economic
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processes (urbanization, tourism )are affecting ecosystem goods and services of montane
and alpine areas (provision of clean water supply)Reduced farming activities have led to
massive shrub encroachment and forest expansion into formerly open habitats
,particularly ,at higher elevations forest area increased underpinning the dynamics of
present land cover transformation land cover changes seem to affect ETP and runoff
exerting hydrological consequences for adjacent lowlands (Christian Komer,2006).
Nasreen Islam Khan (2000) has well brought out the land
transformation due to urbanization and its impact on surface water system in Dhaka
Metropolitan area –Arial expansion and population increase characterize land
transformation process as well as growth .Dhaka is facing the growing problems of urban
sprawl. Loss of natural vegetation ,loss of open spaces and a general decline in the spatial
extent and connectivity of wet lands and wildlife habitat.
Urbanization is a process that always initiates the
continual transformation of land from one use to the other. Land transformation is
presently being experienced in and around fast growing towards .It is also firmly stated
that spatial and temporal changes in the unplanned growth of the built up area is
impacting negatively on the environment erosion,indiscriminate waste disposal siltation
and contamination are on increase (Ifatimehin etal 2009).The process of urbanization is
one of the most important drivers of economic ,social and physical change in developing
countries –rapid urban population growth leads not only to an increasing demand for
urban land ,particularly for housing but also for various other uses increasing demand for
land is affecting .peri urban areas ,where urban expansion is already encroaching into the
agriculture lands and small villages. Rural -urban fringes are characterized by diverse
land uses which often vary in relation to their functional linkages to urban and to rural
sectors. Due to diverse land uses, most population is heterogeneous .It is to be also noted
that haphazard development occurs due to urban sprawl and this non optimal use of land
with in the controlled areas .land conversion leads to deterioration in quantity and quality
of land for farming-therefore in the small pieces of land raising high value crops are
encouraged.
The process of urbanization is one of the most important
drivers of economic ,social and physical change in developing countries –Rapid urban
population growth leads not only to an increasing demand for various other uses
increasing demand for land is affecting peri urban areas where urban expansion is
already encroaching into the agriculture lands and small villages .Rural urban fringes are
characterized by diverse land uses ,which often vary in relation to their functional
linkages to urban and to rural sectors .Due to diverse land uses most population is
heterogeneous .It is to be also noted that haphazard development occurs due to urban
sprawl and thus non optimal use of land with in the controlled areas –land conversion
leads to deterioration in quantity and quality of land for farming –there fore in the small
pieces of land raising of high value crops are encouraged.
Hyderabad too is growing very fast .It is likely to attain a
mega city status .The growth has been phenomenal since 1970’s and especially so since
90’s due to an increase in IT boom . In the wake of increasing population it is but natural
that built up area too increases for residential ,commercial transportation and other
infrastructural facilities .This urban sprawl activity transform the land characters ,thereby
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converting one type to the other leading to either positive or negative changes in the
development process.
Hyderabad as a nodal center in telangana region of Andhra
Pradesh ,has assumed enormous importance ,not only as a growing city ,but also as a
major sustaining city . The growth is calculated based on spatio temporal analysis of
difference data sets basically toposheet of 56k series on 1:250000 and 1:50000 scale
(1971) IRS 1C.1D LISS III imageries of 1998,2000 and 2006(path 99 and 100 and row
60)-change detection or transformation of land use is detected through image analysis
using software of leica and erdas 8.7 version.
Study area: Hyderabad is one the fastest growing mega cities in India. The growth has
been phenomenal since 1971. Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration region recorded 5.75
million population in 2001.Whereas Hyderabad Urban Development Authority(Inclusive
of Secunderabad) accounted for 6.38 million population in 2001.The region bounded by a
50 km radius from Hussain Sagar in city center with 16˚-17˚ N 78˚-79˚ E extension can
broadly be categorized as city center(0-5 km) urban belt(5-10 km), Rural belt (10-25 km)
and Ruralarea(25-50km). (map 1)
.
Map 1
The pockets of concentrated activity from city center dwindles
down to more open scope towards the margins of the region. The region in general is an
undulating plateau terrain with a general elevation around 560 mts. The region can be
termed as hot moist semi-arid eco-sub region(Velayatam et al 1999).Mean annual
temperature varies from 25˚ to 29˚ C and mean annual rainfall is around 760 mm, which
is mainly due to south-west monsoon.
10-25 km 25-50 km
5-10 km
0-5 km
1971
Zone-wise LCC in Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration
2001
10-25 km 25-50 km
5-10 km
0-5 km
Built-up area
Water body
Agriculture
Vegetation
Other land
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The zone city center with 5 km radius is completely built up with
Hussain Sagar lake at the center. It is located at 540 mts above sea level. This region with
a densely built Central Business District(CBD) exhibits a dense network of roads. Of late,
a number of recreation parks form a part of land use of this region. Thus flood plain lies
in the center, accompanied by high raising elevation to the north and south
Urban belt zone extending from 5-10 km radius from the center
depicts city sprawl, the tentacles’ of urban growth being witnessed along highway
corridors. Kukatpally and Tirmulgiry are northern extents of urban belt, stretching across
the pediment zone. This region is drained by Musi river and its confluents that have
mostly turned into urban drains. Mean elevation is slightly higher than at center with
residual hills, Inselbergs and Tors standing out as outliers amidst the expanding city.
Natural vegetation is stunted and sparse with Musi river bed is characterized by dense
weed cover. Open spaces provide cooler conditions. Radial road network inclusive of
national highways to Bangalore and Mumbai are prominent.
Farther, the radius of 25 km marks a zone of actual transformation
from urban to rural sector. This zone is an amalgamation of open ground, isolated
hillocks with open scrubs and vast pediplan studded with two major fresh water body
supplying water to city. This zone includes the settlements of Rajendranagar and
Himayathsagar to the South, Hayathnagar to the East, Banjara Hills to the west and
Shamirpet to the North. Mean elevation is higher in the north-west with an approximate
elevation of 620 m. Degraded scrubs characterize vegetation in the region with pockets
of agriculture near the reservoirs that act as feeders to city center.
Further away, the region grades down into an open space studded
with isolated stony waste along linear road network. Numerous dry tanks dot the region
with a majority of them located in NW. Open scrub and bare topography interspersed by
agriculture fields are predominant.
Hyderabad region as per 2001 census has 3.1 million population in
which 1.6 are male and the remaining females. Within this, Charminar’s share of
population is one million, followed by Golkonda and Musheerabad with 0.7 million each
and lastly Secunderabad with a close 0.66 million. Urban belt as the second study zone
has a spread of approximately 300 km2. It includes not only Hyderabad with 3.1 million,
but also a part of Ranga Reddy district. The male, female ratio is more or less the same
for the entire region. Rural belt with a stretch over Saroornagar, Hayathnagar,Ghatkesar,
Shamshabad, Medchal, etc shows a decline in total numbers. Qutubullapur with 0.28 m,
Moinabad with 0.5 m cover the area. Rural areas in the region have the largest number.
The region covers Chevella, Shankarpally, Patancheru, Jinnaram, Bibinagar,
Pochampally, Sangareddy and Kandukur to name a few. Sangareddy and Patancheru
have 0.1million population. Bhuvanagiri has 0.09 million , Hayathnagar with 0.08 million
are the close 2nd
and 3rd
. Keesara wih 0.19 million is in the region with 0,1 million males
and 0.9 ,million females. The population in general decreases from densely settled centre
to scattered rural areas. (MAP 2)
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Map 2: Population distribution - male & female ratio in parts of 1- Rangareddy,
2-Hyderabad, 3- Nalgonda, 4- Medak, 5- Mahabubnagar & 6 – HUA area.
In view of increasing urban growth and urban expansive process an attempt is
made in this paper to highlight the spatio temporal process of land transformation due to
urban sprawl which in turn is leading to social vulnerability in the study region.
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Land use| Land cover in 1971:
1971-2000: For the city region ,the growth in built up area was 167.89% with variations
in difference zones analysis of built up area over 30 year period indicated maximum
increase by 428.8% in 10-25 km zone or rural belt .in rural area ,i.e 25-50 km belt built
up area increased by 305.5% where as in 5-10 km zone or urban belt this increase was
37.8% and was marginal in city center with 1.02%.A change detection for the entire area
was performed which indicated that ,while there was no change in 3903.4 km2 of study
area ,extent of built up area, other land and vegetational cover increased by
355.6km2.351.6 km2 and about 1210.8km2. However, area under water body and
agriculture are decreased by 248.5 km2 and 1474.5 km2 respectively .Much change was
noticed in case of agricultural land that shifted to the category of “other lands”. A
primary reason for this shift is owing to rapid urbanization in the region. Another reason
for this shift is the recurrent drought forcing the farmers to optimum for long fallow –
Apart from this ,many socio –economic factors have fuelled the change in land use .Such
as large scale migration of farming families to urban centers in search of livelihood
,recurrent crop failure high value of land ,credit facility decreasing water resources,
education ,market economy etc. In periurban area or rural belt ,a number of fruit orchards
and tree plantations have been established which led to increase in area under vegitational
cover .Area under water body decreased as tank bottom and river beds were encroached
for cultivation using conserved moisture .A few tank beds have been encroached upon to
set up colonies a most undesirable trend ,compounding the problem of water shortage in
the region.
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Conclusion: Land transformation is an unsustainable land use practice leading to
social vulnerability. Land transformation identified through image analysis for the
present study area up holds the dictum that land transformation leads to land degradation
of one type or the other impacting the rural marginal farmers due to deterioration in
agriculture and loss of sources of livelihood in rural area.
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