IMPACT OF URBANISATION ON LAND USE CHANGE USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS: A CASE STUDY IN PATHSALA TOWN, BARPETA DISTRICT, ASSAM, INDIA

Urbanisation is increasing in almost all countries, especially in third world countries. This could be due to migration, natural increase and inclusion of new areas under the class ‘Urban’. With the high pace of social and economic development in Asia and the resulting growth of city and town population, lack of infrastructure, congested traffic, environmental degradation and a housing shortage became the major issues faced by cities and towns in their sustainable development. The study therefore sought to investigate the effects of urbanisation on changing patterns of land use in Pathsala Town of Assam. The Pattern of land use for different purposes in any area influences the local and anticipated future economy. The relationship between changing urbanization and land use pattern is communicated by a number of socio-economic, cultural, political, industrial and other aspects. An effort towards better education, health & nutrition as well as better scientific and technological education will be a solid contribution to the appropriate use of land in a particular area. In the absence of the above said effort there will be a threat to sustainability. During the last few decades, there is automatically a reduction in productive agricultural land in the study area. The study area has become a complete built up area with few reserves or vacant land for future development. SOI topographical maps, secondary data, field data, GIS and field observations will be used to carry out this study.