CHANGING LAND USE PATTERN OF RAHIM YAR KHAN CITY
By
MUHAMMAD ASIF Roll No. 03 (2014-2016)
SUPERVISED BY Prof. Dr. ASAD ALI KHAN
Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Geography
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY The Islamia University of Bahawalpur
PAKISTAN
Contents Titles Page No. Dedication ...... i Declaration ...... ii Certificate ...... iii Acknowledgements ...... iv Contents ...... v List of Tables ...... ix List of Figures ...... x List of Maps ...... xi Abstract ...... xii List of Abbreviations ...... xiv
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1-14 1.1 Background of the Study ...... 1 1.2 Need and Importance of the Study ...... 6 1.3 Main Objectives ...... 8 1.4 Major Questions ...... 8 1.5 Scope of the Study ...... 9 1.6 The Study Area ...... 9 1.6.1 Physiography ...... 11 1.6.2 Climate and General Soil Conditions ...... 11 1.6.3 Flora and Fauna ...... 12 1.6.4 Population ...... 13 1.6.5 Economy ...... 14 1.7 Organization of the Thesis ...... 14
Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ...... 15-29 2.1 Urban Growth in Rahim Yar Khan ...... 27 2.2 Immediate Versus Essential Causes ...... 28
v 2.3 Determinants of Land Use Change ...... 28 2.4 Interaction of Causes ...... 29
Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY ...... 30-40 3.1 Selection of Topic ...... 32 3.2 Selection of the Area ...... 33 3.3 Sources of Data ...... 35 3.4 Filed Observations ...... 35 3.5 Softwares Used ...... 36 3.6 Geo-referencing Process of the Maps ...... 36 3.7 Development of Classification Scheme ...... 38 3.8 Environmental Impact Assessment ...... 38 3.9 Cartographical Map Work ...... 38 3.10 Limitations of the Study ...... 39 3.11 Arrangement of Research Work According to the Objectives ...... 39
Chapter 4 LAND USE CLASSIFICATION ...... 41-50 4.1 Land Use Classification ...... 43 4.1.1 Residential Areas ...... 44 4.1.2 Commercial Areas ...... 45 4.1.3 Industrial Land ...... 46 4.1.4 Parks and Green Spaces ...... 47 4.1.5 Public Buildings ...... 47 4.1.6 Educational Institutes ...... 48 4.1.7 Health Centers ...... 48 4.1.8 Religious Places ...... 49 4.1.9 Vacant land/Open Spaces ...... 49 4.1.10 Canals ...... 49 4.1.11 Railway Lines and Roads ...... 49 4.1.12 Grave Yards ...... 49
vi 4.1.13 Slums ...... 50 4.1.14 Others ...... 50
Chapter 5 FACTORS OF LAND USE CHANGES IN RAHIM YAR KHAN CITY ...... 51-59 5.1 Demographic Factors ...... 52 5.1.1 Population Growth ...... 52 5.1.2 Migration ...... 55 5.2 Economic Factors ...... 56 5.2.1 Capital ...... 56 5.2.2 Organization ...... 56 5.3 Socio Cultural Factors ...... 57 5.3.1 Government Policies ...... 57 5.3.2 Job Opportunities ...... 58 5.4 Technological Factors ...... 58 5.4.1 Industrialization ...... 58 5.4.2 Communications and Transportation ...... 59
Chapter 6 LAND USE CHANGES IN RAHIM YAR KHAN CITY ...... 60-96 6.1 Land Use Patterns in Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981 to 2015 ...... 60 6.1.1 Land Use of the City in 1981 ...... 60 6.1.2 Land Use of the City in 1998 ...... 63 6.1.3 Land Use of the City in 2015 ...... 65 6.2 Change in Commercial Land Use of City from 1981 to 2015 ...... 70 6.2.1 Commercial Land Use of City in 1981 ...... 71 6.2.2 Change in Commercial Land Use of City from 1981 to 1998 ...... 72 6.2.3 Change in Commercial Land Use of City from 1998 to 2015 ...... 74 6.2.4 Comparison of Commercial Areas of Rahim Yar Khan City in 1981, 1998 and 2015 ...... 76 6.3 Change in Industrial Land Use of City from1981 to 2015 ...... 78 6.3.1 Industrial Land Use of City in 1981 ...... 78
vii 6.3.2 Change in Industrial Land Use of City from 1981 to 1998 ...... 81 6.3.3 Change in Industrial Land Use of City from 1998 to 2015 ...... 83 6.3.4 Comparison of Industrial Area in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 85 6.4 Residential Growth in Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981 to 2015 ...... 89 6.4.1 Residential Land of City in 1981 ...... 89 6.4.2 Residential Area Growth from 1981 to 1998 ...... 91 6.4.3 Residential Area Growth from 1998 to 2015 ...... 92 6.4.4 Comparison in Residential Land Use from 1981 to 2015 ...... 93
Chapter 7 IMPACTS OF LAND USE CHANGE ...... 97-107 7.1 Impact on Land Values ...... 98 7.1.1 Change in Residential Land Values from 1981 to 2015 ...... 98 7.1.2 Change in Commercial Land Values from 1981 to 2015 ...... 99 7.2 Impact on Environment ...... 102 7.2.1 Water Pollution ...... 102 7.2.2 Air and Noise Pollution ...... 102 7.3 Impact on Socio Economic Conditions ...... 105
Chapter 8 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 108-112 8.1 Conclusion ...... 108 8.2 Recommendations ...... 110 8.3 The Formulation of Future Development Plans and Policies ...... 111 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 113-121
viii List of Tables Tables Page No.
Table 3.1 Population Distribution in Rahim Yar Khan District ...... 34 Table 3.2 Land Use Classification Scheme ...... 38 Table 5.1 Population Density of the Tehsil Rahim Yar Khan District ...... 53 Table 6.1 Land Use of the City in 1981 ...... 62 Table 6.2 Land Use of the City in 1998 ...... 64 Table 6.3 Land Use Area in 2015 ...... 66 Table 6.4 Change in Ranking of Different Land Use Categories from 1981 to 2015 ...... 67 Table 6.5 Increasing Commercial Area of Rahim Yar Khan City in Three Different Years ...... 76 Table 6.6 Industries in Rahim Yar Khan District ...... 87 Table 6.7 Industrial Area in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 88 Table 6.8 Residential Area in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 94 Table 7.1 Change in Residential Land Value Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981 to 2015 ...... 99 Table 7.2 Change in Commercial Land Value of Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981 to 2015 ...... 100 Table 7.3 Level of Air Pollution vs. Standards of World Health Organization ...... 104
ix List of Figures Figures Page No.
Figure 3.1 Methodological Frame Work of the Study ...... 31 Figure 3.2 Process of Making Land Use Maps ...... 37 Figure 3.3 Arrangement of Research Work ...... 40 Figure 4.1 Land Use Classification ...... 42 Figure 5.1 Factors of Land Use Change in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 51 Figure 5.2 Population Growth Rate in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 53 Figure 5.3 Population Projection in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 54 Figure 6.1 Land Use Pattern of Rahim Yar Khan City in1981, 1998 and 2015 ...... 67 Figure 6.2 Changing areas of different Land Use Categories from 1981 to 2015 ...... 68 Figure 6.3 Percentage of Residential, Commercial and other Land Uses 1981 ...... 72 Figure 6.4 Percentage of Residential, Commercial and other Land Uses 1998 ...... 74 Figure 6.5 Percentage of Residential, Commercial and other Land Uses 2015 ...... 76 Figure 6.6 Percentage of Residential, Industrial and other Land Uses 1981 ...... 81 Figure 6.7 Percentage of Residential, Industrial and other Land Uses 1998 ...... 83 Figure 6.8 Percentage of Residential, Industrial and other Land Uses 2015 ...... 85 Figure 6.9 Change in Industrial Area in Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981, 1998 and 2015 ...... 88 Figure 6.10 Change in Residential Area in Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981, 1998 and 2015 ...... 94 Figure 6.11 Number of Approved Colonies in Rahim Yar Khan City in Different Years ... 95 Figure 7.1 Impacts of Changing Land Use Pattern In Rahim Yar Khan City...... 97 Figure 7.2 Land Use Zones/Types ...... 98 Figure 7.3 Numbers of Registers Vehicles...... 103
x List of Maps Maps Page No.
Map 1.1 District Rahim Yar Khan (Study Area) in Pakistan ...... 7 Map 1.2 Location of Study Area in Punjab ...... 10 Map 1.3 Tehsils of Rahim Yar Khan District ...... 12 Map 3.1 Land Use Map of Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 34 Map 6.1 Land Use of the City in 1981 ...... 61 Map 6.2 Land Use of the City in 1998 ...... 63 Map 6.3 Land Use of the City in 2015 ...... 65 Map 6.4 Commercial Area of City in 1981 ...... 71 Map 6.5 Commercial Area of City Area in 1998 ...... 73 Map 6.6 Commercial Areas of City in 2015 ...... 75 Map 6.7 Commercial Land Use Change from 1981 to 2015 ...... 77 Map 6.8 Industrial Units in 1981 ...... 80 Map 6.9 Industrial Units of the City in 1998 ...... 82 Map 6.10 Industrial Units of the City in 2015 ...... 84 Map 6.11 Comparisons of Industrial Area in 1981, 1998 and 2015 ...... 86 Map 6.12 Residential Area of City in 1981 ...... 90 Map 6.13 Residential Area of City in 1998 ...... 91 Map 6.14 Residential Area of City in 2015 ...... 92 Map 7.1 Air Pollution Levels in Rahim Yar Khan City ...... 105
xi Abstract
There is a close relationship between the land and the man. Land is a permanent source of human food, shelter and clothing. It is used by the people in different ways depending upon the requirement according to the time. Use of land is a highly dynamic activity on the face of earth associated with increasing requirements of growing population. The human beings have a restless nature. Their dwellings have been changing since their origin on the earth. In beginning the humans beings settled themselves into the caves but with the passage of times their dwellings changed rapidly. They started to live in the constructed houses rather than living in caves and tamed the land for their purposes either for residential, commercial or agricultural. Since then land use changes are also diverting as a consequence of expanding population. These changes have occurred a significant impact on the environment also. This study investigates the changes that in land use pattern of Rahim Yar Khan City from 1981 to 2015. The data for the study was collected from land use maps obtained from TMA office Rahim Yar Khan City, Urban Unit Rahim Yar Khan, PMDFC, Google maps, Revenue Office Rahim Yar Khan and 1981 and 1998 District Census Reports of Rahim Yar Khan. Softwares Arc GIS and Arc View have been used to develop land use maps of different periods. These maps helped to classify land use of the city as well as calculate and analyze the changes. Land use changes that took place with the passage of time due to increasing population pressure. Initially Rahim Yar Khan was a small town but with the increases in population size, establishment of well renowned educational institutes, vocational institutes, availability of medical facilities, job opportunities the process of urbanization geared up and the city started to expand its boundaries. The residential land use changes altered the morphology of the City. The residential, commercial, industrial and other land use changes engulfed the agricultural land and open spaces of the city. Due to the conversion of agricultural land use and open spaces into the residential land of the city is facing a number of social, economic and environmental problems. In the city the level of noise and air pollution has also increased due to increase in the number of vehicles. The residential land use changes in the city are also responsible for the increase in the land values not only of residential areas but of commercial areas as well. It has been concluded from the research that the residential land use changes are altering the morphology as well as social, economic and environmental
xii cycles of the city. The land use changes have brought commercialism in progress and the worth of the city has been changed from agricultural to commercial and educational city. The study also provides baseline information for urban land use planners. However, it is not an end in itself and further in-depth studies of land use changes and their causes are required to be conducted for the better future planning.
xiii Chapter 1 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study There is a close relationship between the land and the people. The land is the permanent source of human food, shelter and clothing. That is why land is used by the people in different ways depending upon the requirements according to the time and place. Human involvement and the natural changes are the main factors of changes in the land use. It plays an important role in developing the current strategies of natural resources and also helpful in monitoring the environmental changes. The study of land and its use is increasing worldwide because of the quick changes occurring in land use and quick growth in the field of land use mapping. Land is the basic, fixed and limited natural resource. Land plays the key role in the determination of man‟s economic activities as well as social and cultural progress. All agricultural, animal and forestry productions depend on the quality and productivity of the land. The entire terrestrial eco-system which comprises of soil, water and plant are survived on the land resource. It meets the demand of food, energy and other needs of livelihood. Singh and Jasbir (1997) has classified the five most natural land resources entities, namely the terrain, climate, soils, water resources and forest cover. Climate, relief and geological formations of the land are very stable resources. Soils and water are moderately stable resources while the vegetation and related biological features are relatively unstable resources. It shows that all the natural resources are associated to the land resource. The growing pressure of population and the increasing variety of demands being completed on land resources. Therefore it is necessary to know the existing use of land at micro level in order to plan the optimum use of land. The term land use is used to describe the use of an area of land of a certain time is put to. It is related to the human activity associated with a specific piece of land. Land use by definition is the use of land, usually with emphasis upon its functional role with respect to economic activities. Land use refers to “Man‟s activities and the various uses which are carried on land” (Clawson & Steward, 1965). Land use is a primary indicator of the extent and degree to which man has modified the land resources (Vink, 1975). Land use is the
1 surface utilization of all developed and vacant land on a specific point at given time and space (Mandal, 1982). It is mainly related to the optimum use of limited land between the alternative major types of land use. It is the result of a continuous interaction between available resources and human needs acted upon by human efforts. It is necessary for human survival and man has a definite role in managing and transforming his physical environment. As a result scientific knowledge of land use is essential to solve the number of problems associated with land use. The general land use of region is the end result of physical, economic and social factors. These factors play a significant role in shaping the general land use. The geographic aspects mainly physiography, climate, soil and the socio-economic aspects such as population, irrigation, urbanization, industrialization, transportation etc. play significant role in shaping the general land use. The land use patterns reflect the character of the interaction between people and environment. Land use change is a major issue of global environment change. Land use is the modification in the purpose of the land which is not necessarily only the change in land cover but also changes in intensity and management (Verburg, 2000). The pattern of land use is not uniform but it changes from place to place and time to time. The changes in land use are studied by conventional as well as the modern methods. It is useful to prepare integrated plans for optimal utilization of natural resources, their planning for development of the region. Few landscapes on the Earth are not changes by the human or not being changed in some way. Natural Environment is being affected by the human being‟s presence because of its alternation on the Earth. These anthropogenic influences on shifting patterns of land use are a primary component of many current environmental concerns as land use change is gaining recognition as a key driver of environmental change (Riebsame, et al., 1994). For more understanding of the effects of the land use changes on terrestrial ecosystems, the elements that create effects on the land use should be observed completely. Because of the increasing in the population if the human the pressure of the land use and the demand of the multi factors like food, water, shelter and the fuel is also changing. The land use implementation is usually produces by the passage of the time under different political, demographic, and social conditions. These states often changes yet have a direct effect on land use (Ojima, et al., 1994).
2 It is very complicated aspect between the relation of society and the land use that encircle a wide range of natural and social processes. In the modern system the land use needs a managing logical resources and analyzing the environmental changes. In late 1960‟s the study of perception of vegetation mapping increased because of the quick prosperity in the land use. It is significant to provide the exact assessment about the health of the forest, grassland and agriculture reserves in the world. It becomes crucial to view the Earth from the space to know the increasing impact of the human action on the natural resources. Land use is changing because of the rapid change in time and the analysis from the space. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) are the latest tools for leading the ecosystem management. The synoptic analysis of the Earth by the remotely sensed data help for the system function, patterning, and change at local, regional and global scales over time as the data also offer the significant connection between the intensive, localized ecological research and regional, national and international control and management of biological difference (Wilkie & Finn, 1996). In the modern planning the land use and the land cover have becomes the basic element for controlling the natural resources and observing the advancement in the environment. The upgrading system in the vegetation mapping has increased the research on the land and in change of the land cover provides the exact assessment of the spread and health of the world‟s forest, grassland, and agricultural resources has become significant preference. In classical economics the land is considered as the one of the three dominant aspects and the crucial factor for the housing and food management. Finally we can say that land is the backbone of the agriculture economies that offer the generous economic and social prosperity. Without spending it is not possible to change the land use. The change of land and forest to the urban development decrease the number of the lands that are useable for the food and the production of the wood. The soil destruction, salinization, desertification, and other soil degradations linked with the comprehensive agriculture and the erosion minimize the quality of the land resources and the future agricultural fertility (Lubowski, et al., 2006). Land is the point where the human perform the tasks. This land offers the sources to perform the tasks. Human beings use the land and its usage varies according to the need and purpose. It can be used for the food, shelter, provision of recreation, preparation of the
3 substantial distill by the human being result in the land use. The use of land also includes the changes in the natural environment or the wildness into the built environment like fields, pastures, and settlements. It can be explained as the activities of the human that leads to production and the maintenance of the land. Rapid change in land use has occurred due to population pressure and rapid economic growth. Human needs and Environmental features are the two major processes which shapes the land use change. Both these process are constantly changing. Land use changing occurring at various spatial levels within the different periods of times. Sometime these changes are beneficial. Sometimes have detrimental effects while some time these land use changes have adverse effect on the environment. The land for the use for the use of the residence means the human erection on the land for its living. The Zoning Law can bound for the dwelling and the numbers of dwelling for each dwelling. It includes the criteria for how much dwelling units are needed and allowed. With the passage of the time the magnitude of the land use changes also analysis with the geographical area. However the analysis of the changes in the land use magnitude depends upon the source, its type, the spatial groupings, and the data sets used. The land use practice is different according to the region. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization Water Development Division explains that "Land use includes the products or the benefits gained from the use of the land as well as the land activities done by the human being for the production of the benefits from it. As of the early 1990s, about 13% of the Earth was considered arable land, with 26% in pasture, 32% forests and woodland, and 1.5% urban areas. In this history of the development of the urban area, it is the most changing region on the surface of the Earth. Aristotle emphasizes on the subjectivity of the human beings to the authority of the city-state in order to achieve better life. In 2008 according to the United Nation report for the first time in history, the world has attained a crucial landmark that the cities are the dwelling of the half of the global population. According to the United Nation report in 2009, it is expected that the global urban population will grow at 84% from 3.4 billion in 2009 to 6.3 billion in 2050. According to (UNFPA 2007) many cities are situated at the heart of enriched agriculture lands and the development of the urban growth relies on the urban rural fringes. It shows that there is huge development in the urban areas and one of the major reasons is the
4 regional growth. It is also the proof of the development of the urban population take place in the developing countries generally in Pakistan. Urban development is the most important part in geographical region. Its rate varies according to the socio economic system of the society and the development rate. The urban development has enormous effect on the urban growth mechanism in the city and its neighboring locality, in the meantime the development style varied by the usage of the land and the alteration with the urban extension. Urban development arrangement has the versatile effects on the urban growth. Cities and the urban Cities and urban communities have been changed badly by high increase in urban population density, strengthening of architectural framework of building and housing setup and intense changing in economic and social framework. Geospatial technologies have been identified as important supreme system for judgment of urban development pattern. An immense change of social and economic factors influence the arrangement of the development and the change of the city‟s transportation and communication innovations, internal and international migration, public policies and globalization of economic activity. There are many problems for the developing countries like Pakistan because they make the plan without proper strategy. As there is increase in the population the rapid development out cropping are normally occur and the expensive agriculture land is being infringed. On the other side, the management of the city cannot observe the development of this aimless urban growth without proper knowledge and instruction. The technologies of the GIS and the remote sensing now have been connected to identify and control urban invasion in a way that is easy and fast than the old methods of inspecting the urban environment (DaCosta, 1999). In this modern world the analysis of the land use and the land cover modify. There are two important levels of micro and macro researches that has become the least important among the researcher especially for those who are concerned with graphical science. Currently international researchers use the changes based on the regional case studies. The study of the spatiotemporal development of the land use and land cover changes on the territorial basis is the main component in understanding the changed process that brings about the land use changes.
5 Today, land use and land cover changes play crucial role in the observation and study of the international changes scenario. Land use caused by anthropogenic activities and natural modifications have largely resulted in loss of agricultural field, deforestation, bio diversity loss, global warming and increase of natural disaster and flooding(Mas, et al., 2004). Due to change in the use of the land the geo-environmental complications happened. This is why the Land use data is used for the decision making of ecological development and environmental planning for future (Fan, et al., 2007).The increasing demand of the socio- economic requirements for the development of growing population leads to develop a pressure on the land use or the land cover. This causes the unplanned and uncontrolled the changes in land use. The changes in the land use are normally because of the mismanagement of urban, water related issues, mountain eco-system, range and forest lands which lead to serious environmental problems such as landslides, floods etc. Currently, remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems(GIS) are latest tools to conclude exact knowledge on the spatial distribution of land cover and land use changes over large areas all over the world (Carlson & Azofeifa, 1999). Past and present studies done by organizations and institutions around the world, mostly, have focused on the application of Land use changes using RS and GIS. GIS offers a dynamic environment for collecting, storing, displaying and analyzing digital data essential for studying change detection (Yomralıoğlu, 2002, Demers, 2005, Wu, 2006). RSS instructions is the most necessary data source used in GIS and related technologies. Satellite imagery is used for recognize on of synoptic data of earth‟s surface (Ulbricht & Heckendorf, 1998).
1.2 Need and Importance of the Study Indeed, attempt has been made to document the growth of Rahim Yar Khan District in the past but that from an aerial photography. In recent times, the dynamics of Land use Land cover and particularly agreement development in the area needs a more strong system such as GIS and Remote Sensing data that offers a regular extensive synoptic coverage of large areas than area photography. The study focuses on Changing land use pattern in the Rahim Yar Khan City. The basic purpose of the study is to identify the Changing land use pattern and its determinants during the time period of 1981 to 2015. It also helps to understand the spatio-temporal growth of the Rahim Yar Khan city.
6 Map 1.1: District Rahim Yar Khan (Study Area) in Pakistan
Source: Edited by Author 2015.
During the past thirty years city has seen different phases of growth. The changing pattern not only observed in the terms of urban growth of the city but it also been observed that the rural urban fringe of the city has also been expand in past thirty years. The expansion of the city in term of residential land use brings noticeable changes in the environment of the city as well as in the land values of the city as well. The land value of the city has been dramatically changed as compared to the past. Due to the change in the residential pattern the urban landscape is also affected. Previously the land which was occupied by the open or green spaces is now turned into commercial, industrial and residential areas, bringing significant changes in the environment of the city. Green spaces like play grounds, parks, home lawns and gardens are also psychologically very important. One example is a study on the response of a person put under stress in different environments. This study shows when a subject of
7 experiment are exposed to different environment they behave differently i.e. to natural environments level of stress decrease rapidly while to the urban environment it remained same or increased. Another example on a recovery of patient in a hospital showed that the patient with room facing towards park or green spaces has 10% faster recovery and require 50% less medicines to the patient in room facing a building wall. But unfortunately the scenario has been changed in terms of environmental conditions. Due to the conversion of open space into commercial, industrial and residential areas the level of different type of pollution has been increased as compared to the past. The study associated to Urbanization, urban Sprawl, urban expansion and the growth is paling an important part in urban development literature globally. The results derived from this study would be very important for the analyst. The institutes of the Government and other local organizations, planners, strategy makers, can obtain the benefit from the derived results. This information can be benefited to search the solutions to the problems of various urban areas. The study associated with urban expansion will be benefited for developing the urban dwellers standard of living, making sure the public solutions and meeting the requirement of main services and housing framework for them.
1.3 Main Objectives The below important goals will be conducted in order to gain the aim above. 1. To develop a land use classification scheme of the study area. 2. To point out the factors of land use change in Rahim Yar Khan City. 3. To examine land use change from 1981 to 2015 and to point out rate and trends in study area by using GIS techniques. 4. To identify the impact of land use change on Study area
1.4 Major Questions 1. What are the main factors that are responsible for land use change in Rahim Yar Khan City? 2. What are the major factors that have contributed in the rapid increase in land values of the study area? 3. How the land use has changed from 1981 to 2015 and what is the rate and trends of land use change in Rahim Yar Khan City?
8 4. How the changes in land use are affecting the social, economic and environmental activities?
1.5 Scope of the Study The scientific study of the element and effect of land use changes is not restricted. This topic has engaged the scientist in various countries of the world because in all the cases the changes in the land and its control leads towards the specific kind of actual interest to the public authorities and individuals on such phenomenon because the standard of the drinking water, availability of water for agriculture, flood and other natural hazards, fresh and sea water pollution, atmospheric pollution. This change is linked inevitably with diversification of disciplines being involved in these studies. The social sciences and the humanities have long explored various facets of the nature-society interactions from the level of the individual to the level of social groups, particular societies, and "society" as a whole. There is distinction of attitude and disciplinary "encounters" on specific topics are always welcome, normally a researcher of land use change gets is that of polyphony of meanings and of approaches which describe the specific points of view, definitions of the issue of land use change and results proposed solutions. The difference between the life and the earth sciences as well as the social sciences is specifically prominent, intense, and The gap between the life and earth sciences, on the one hand, and the humanities and social sciences, on the other, is particularly visible, intense, and discouraged. Instead of the collective information Despite mutual confirmation of the close interrelationship between the bio-physical and socio-economic dimensions of land use change, still there is weak bond of transmission between them and hence the particular connection for necessary assimilation of their different worlds. The researches that are working on the similar topics have the less information and no knowledge of what each other are working on and how they study the particular subjects of the same indivisible entity, the used of the land and its diversification.
1.6 The Study Area Rahim Yar Khan is a city located in southern part of Punjab province. It lies between 27°40' to 29°16' north latitudes and 60°45' to 70°01' east longitudes (GOP, 1999). Rahim Yar Khan is bounded on the north by Muzaffargarh district, on the east by Bahawalpur district, on
9 the south by Jasilmir (India ) and Ghotki district of Sindh province and on the west by Rajanpur district. Map 1.2: Location of Study Area in Punjab
Source: Edited by Author 2015.
In 1943 the Rahim Yar Khan was announced as the independent administration district. Its name was derived from its headquarter city Rahim Yar Khan. The previous name of this city was Naushehra which was built in 1875 A.D by Fazal Elahi Halani on the ruins of the ancient Pul-Wadda during the Sumra supremacy in Sindh. In the year 1881, the Railway
10 Authorities desired to change the name of railway station in the name of a town called Nowshera situated in Peshawar district. Consequently in 1881 to avoid any confusion because of similar nomenclature, NawabSadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur changed the name of the sub- division Naushehra after the name of his first son crown prince Rahim Yar Khan. In 1883 Nawab Sadiq Khan-IV of Bahawalpur changes its name Rahim Yar Khan. Formerly Rahim Yar Khan was also one of the names of the three districts of the former princely State of Bahawalpur until 1955. Today, Rahim Yar Khan lies on an important train route which runs south to Sukkur and north to Bahawalpur. According to the 1998 census the total area of the district is 11,880 square kilometers with the population was 233,537 with an annual growth rate of 4.04%. As of January 2007, it is around 330,000 The district comprises four Tehsils namely Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiq Abad, Liaquat Pur and Khan Pur. There are four municipal committees and five town committees in the district
1.6.1 Physiography This area is consisted on three main important features that is Riverine area, (b) Canal irrigated area, and (c) Desert area which is called Cholistan. The Riverine area of the district lies close on the southern side of the Indus River mainly falling on the riverbed. The Canal irrigated area lies on the south and is separated by main Minchun Bund. The approximate height of the irrigated area is 150 to 200 meters above the sea level. The part of the area is called Cholistan lies on the south of the irrigated tract up to the Indo Pak border. The surface of the desert consists of successions of sand dunes rising at places to a height of 150 meters and covered with the vegetation peculiar to sandy tracts.
1.6.2 Climate and General Soil Conditions The study area of Rahim Yar Khan is characterized with hot dry summer and cool dry in winter. Its maximum temperature is 49.7ºC. Its minimum temperature is 6.8ºC. The average annual rainfall in the district is 165 mm. (Metrological Department of Pakistan 2010) The district can be divided into three main parts. These are the riverain area, the canal irrigated area and the Cholistan area. The riverain area of the district lies close to the river Indus and Panjnand. To the South West of this area lies the canal irrigated area. The land in this area is higher than that of the riverain area. The estimate height of this area is 150 to 200 meters above sea level and the desert area exist in the South-East of the district that is called
11 as the Cholistan. It extends into Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts, occupying the South Eastern part of the two districts. The surface of the desert situated of a succession of sand dunes rising in places to a height of about 150 meters and covered with the vegetation peculiar to sandy tracts. Map 1.3: Tehsils of Rahim Yar Khan District
Source: Edited by Author 2015.
1.6.3 Flora and Fauna The flora of the district characterizes two major ecological divisions, northern and southern. The botanical life found in the northern half is irrigated land. The human interference in the form of irrigation network has greatly damaged the natural environment. Increases in cultivation, waterlogged areas, and salinity have badly hurt plant life. Because of the increase of salinity at the surface, only salt resistant plants can survive in most of the area. The southern half of the district, characterized by sand dunes, is mostly barren. The exception is in the rainy season when multitudes of ephemeral plants come up and transform the bare
12 land into a lush green carpet. These ephemeral plants complete their life cycles before the summer heat arrive, leaving the land bare and dry. The arid land, generally referred to as the Cholistan desert, has verity of wild life. Which mainly including wild cats, the chinkara deer, a variety of pigs, jackals, foxes, badgers, porcupines, squirrels, gerbils, wild rats, mongeese, poisonous snakes, hog deer, blue bulls, ravine deer, sand grouse, wild lizards, wild egrets are among many other creatures are found in the district Population.
1.6.4 Population According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the total population of Rahim Yar Khan district was 3,141,053 of which 19.16% were urban an inter census percentage increase of 70.6 since March, 1981 when it was 1,841,451. The average annual growth rate was 3.2 percent during this period. The total area of the district is 11,880 square kilometers which gives population density of 264 persons per square kilometer as against 155 persons observed in 1981 indicating a fast growth rate of the district. The urban population was 616,582 or 19.6 percent of the total population of the district which grew at an average rate of 4.3 percent during 1981-98 and had decreased from 4.7 percent observed during 1972-81. There are three Municipal Committees and five Town Committees in the district. According to District Census Report 1981 Population of study area City Rahim Yar Khan was 112,436. The population growth rate in 1981 was 3.3%. After 1981 the population was conducted in 1998 after 17 years of time. The population in 1998 of City Rahim Yar Khan was 233,096 and population growth rate from 1981 to 1998 was 3.4%. In the total population 233,096 of Rahim Yar Khan City 121,446 were males and 111,650 were females. 1998 population census was the last census in Pakistan. From 1998 to recent time there is no population is conducted. Govt. Statistical Department and many private NGOs try to calculate estimated population of the study area. The estimated population of City Rahim Yar Khan in 2015 by Statistical Department District Rahim Yar Khan is 408,117. The population of the district is predominantly Muslims i.e. 96.7 percent. The next higher percentage is of Hindu (Jati) with 1.8 percent, followed by Scheduled Castes 0.6 percent. While other minorities like Christians, Ahmadi etc. are very small in number. The proportion of population of Muslims is higher in urban than rural areas.
13 1.6.5 Economy Rahim Yar Khan city is one of the biggest producers of cotton Agriculture. Well known Lever Brothers Ltd. (Now Called Unilever) has one of its main factories in Rahim Yar Khan, producing Dalda, Planta, Sunflower Oil, famous brands like Lux-Rexona and Detergents like Surf-Excel etc. Similarly, a very large Ahmad Oriental Textile, Ahmad Fine Textile, Ahmad Oil & Ghee mills, Poultry feed mills like Hamalia feeds, Coca-Cola Factory, Haleeb Foods Limited, Vita Bread Limited, Marble Factories, Ginning Factories, Flour mills provide an industrial base. Etihad Sugar Mills is the new addition in the industrial base of Tehsil Rahim Yar Khan. Coca cola also has one of its factories in Rahim Yar Khan. Many fertilizer plants are located near the city.
1.7 Organization of the Thesis The research work contains eight chapters. In the first chapter brief introduction, history of the study, main objectives major questions and introduction about changing land use pattern of District Rahim Yar Khan has been given. The second chapter presents a brief review of describes the research work of different scholars concerning on land use. The third chapter has structure about research methods, source and collection of data and details about software which have used to prepare maps, graphs and tables. The fourth chapter defines research‟s first objective “land use calcification scheme of study area” in this chapter define all classes of land use in details. The second objective is discussed in chapter five, the title of this chapter is “Factors of Land Use Change in Rahim Yar Khan City” in this chapter discussed all the factors in detail which effect the changing land use pattern. The sixth chapter is based on third objective of the research work “Changing Land Use Pattern of Rahim Yar Khan City” in this chapter land use change from 1981 to 2015 is analyze in the form of maps, statistical table and graphs. The fourth and last objective “Impact of land use change in study area” all main impact which effected by land use change is discussed in detail in this chapter. The eight chapter consists on conclusions, findings and recommendations of the research work.
14 Chapter 8 8 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 Conclusion After examining the land use pattern of Rahim Yar Khan City in spatio-temporal perspective study concludes that the land use of the city has changed from simple to complex and from open spaces to built-up area over time. Several new classes of land use have been added into the list of previously existing classes of residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and green spaces land use. Green and empty spaces have squeezed considerably from 6.23% of total area to 3.98% of total area in 34 years while built up area has increased rapidly over time. Like other parts of the world, land use in study area is a dynamic phenomenon and several changes are occurring in it as a result of complex interplay of many factors like demographic, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors. The main role however has been played by rapid growth of population and acceleration in the process of urbanization which is largely associated with rural to urban migration in search of facilities like education of children, improved health facilities, job opportunities and other amities of life. Study clearly reveals that mainly the push and pull factors are responsible for land use changes in Rahim Yar Khan City. These natural and social factors and their insinuation on land use is a very difficult strategy that changes the dimensions of the land area. It rarely happens that a used land is cleared for agriculture. It is evident that always an agricultural land has been cleared for the other land use purposes especially around the cities of Punjab like Rahim Yar Khan. Then these land use changes and consumption brings cleared land in to residential areas and the commercialism in progress. Ultimately the commercial areas are also developed in the newly built residential areas. Thus, the agricultural land is converted into the residential land use and commercial land use. In case of Rahim Yar Khan City, the same thing has happened over the period of last 34 years during 1981 and 2015. The Rahim Yar Khan was declared as a separate administration district in 1943 at that time the city was small and simple. All the commercial and residential area was sparsely expanded. Later on with growing population the city started to expand, new residential areas started to build around the city. The city has seen the
108 remarkable changes in its land use in terms of residential as well as industrial, commercial and educational since the establishment of Govt. Khawajha Farid College and with the establishment of The Islamia University of Rahim Yar Khan campus and other educational institutes. From 1981 to 2015 many new residential colonies are built in all directions like Hassan and Rehmat Niazi Colony in southern part, New Noor-e-Wali and Islamia Colony in South Western part, Labour colony in west side, Habib Colony in North side, Bhatta and Essa Colony in North eastern part, Baber and Zamzam Colony in South eastern part of the city. Several other towns also developed for new residential areas. From 1981 to 2015 the city experienced many changes in its land use as new residential colonies and towns were developed all around the city and agricultural land was utilized for this purpose. Basically new educational institutes, industrial units were also established around the city. The periphery of the city was used for agricultural purposes but from last several years the trend has been changed. City is losing it worth as an agricultural land and covering as populated land. The land use changes are not only changing the shape of land but these changes have an important effect on the land values as well. The residential and commercial land values have reached to high level due the urban growth of the city and still going higher and higher as the city is expanding horizontally on pace. Ten years back the residential values were in access of a common man but in now a day it is hard to buy a good piece of land at a prime location for a common man as prices are out of reach in 2015 as compared to 1981. In 1981 the land value was not so high but now it is too much expensive in 2015 because of educational and industrial units. The variation in land values also occur in residential areas. In mohallas, colonies and towns the noticeable change of residential land values has been observed. In these areas the residential land values varied from core area towards surroundings. The changes in the land use are also changing the environment of the areas. The impact of land use changes not only affects the environment physically but also these changes have a significant impact on the social and economic environment of the area as well. Social and environmental impacts are more severe than the economic impacts of land use changes. The finding of this research indicate that there is a significant change in land use pattern which has gave birth many problems in progress like sewerage problems, health issues, problems of pure drinking water while on the other hand environmental impact can be seen in
109 term of increase in air, noise and water pollution. Economically the residential land use changes bring the changes in the land values and provide a plate-form for commercial activities to start as commercialisms is strongly associated with residential land use changes. The city has faced a period of urban expansion and is still in the phase of more and more urban development. According to District Census Report 1981 Population of study area Rahim Yar Khan City was 112,436. The population growth rate in 1981 was 3.3%. After 1981 the population was conducted in 1998 after 17 years of time. The population in 1998 of Rahim Yar Khan City was 233,096 and population growth rate from 1981 to 1998 was 3.4%. In the total population 233,096 of Rahim Yar Khan City121,446 were males and 111,650 were females. 1998 population census was the last census in Pakistan. From 1998 to recent time there is no population is conducted. Govt. Statistical Department and many private NGOs try to calculate estimated population of the study area. The estimated population of Rahim Yar Khan City in 2015 by Statistical Department District Rahim Yar Khan is 408,117.
8.2 Recommendations Although, the city is going through, the phase of changing land use pattern. The urban planners must consider the next twenty years for the growth, expansion and developing of the area. The problems faced by the inhabitants of the city now days must be sort out on immediate basis. The following are recommendation and suggestion for the city planners of Rahim Yar Khan District. i. Town planning needs to be made more effective to avoid the future problems. ii. Local Government should take necessary steps to meet the basic housing needs of the people, specifically the people living in Squatter settlements of Rahim Yar Khan City. iii. Land allocation for poor‟s must be planned in order to avoid the leap frog growth of the City. iv. Government should define the direction of growth of the city not only in accordance with the land availability but in terms of accessibility as well. v. During the development of city relocation of the people must be done to avoid the establishment of squatter settlement in or around the city.
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