A SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHANGE DETECTION ANALYSIS IN CENTRAL BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY OF ASSAM

The rapid increase of human population, especially developing country like India, is putting extraordinary pressure on the land resources leading to an irrational change of land use and land cover types. Not only urban areas but also numerous rural areas of the country face such problems due to nominal or non-existent planning efforts compounded by rampant population growth. The Sipajhar revenue circle of Darrang district is situated in central Brahmaputra valley of Assam wherein the pressure of population growth on land is gradually gaining ground. As per census report, the population of the circle increased from 59130 in 1971 to 122937 in 2011, witnessing 107.90% increase of population over 40 years. It is also estimated from satellite imageries that an area of 37km2 has been put to rural settlements from 1977 to 2013. With the growing population pressure and unplanned land use in the circle, the need for judicious utilization of land assumes much greater relevance. The present study assesses the trajectory of land use/ land cover changes using the information derived from the Landsat MSS Satellite Image of 16th Dec.1977, Landsat TM Satellite Image of 18th Nov. 1991 and IRS P6 LISS III Satellite Image of 24th Nov. 2013. ERDAS Imagine and ArcGIS software are used as a geospatial tool for processing these satellite images. Based on remote sensing data and primary field investigation this study analyses the spatio-temporal transition of land use/ land cover types as a prerequisite of judicious land-use planning across Sipajhar revenue circle of Darrang district, Assam.