Dynamics Of Land Use Land Cover For Sustainability A Case Of Shillong Meghalaya India

Abstract - Land useland cover change in urban area is a complex and dynamic process that involves both natural and human systems. At present urban area in developing nation is experiencing rapid urbanization and undergoing physical transformation. It is therefore essential that urban planners and managers understand the past and present land use land cover changes in order to predict its impacts on the society economy and environment of the cities. This present study aims to explore and assess land use land cover changes in Shillong India which has experienced significant increase of population during the last three decades mainly due to the growth in service and educational sector. The study monitored land use land cover changes since 1972 in order to assess the development of services activities and its impact on physical transformation. Urban built-up area is an uncontrolled phenomenon with unplanned nature of development. However urban expansion intensity index in the study area revealed that high speed of land use land cover transformation also occurred sporadically throughout the outskirt of the tribal town also after the state bifurcation in 1972 that perhaps it is a cause of concern to planners.