Study of Trends In Urbanization and Changes In Land Use Patterns In India

Implications for Land Use Planning in India

Abstract

Thispaper reveals that there is a phenomenal increase in population andurbanization. The population increase has taken place even in relatively landabundant and semi-arid states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat. The level ofurbanization in India is also on rise and it has to deal with problems of landintrusions on productive agricultural lands. This is because urban land-usespersistently compete with rural land-uses on the basis of more favourable landrent in free market. However, from this study we did not find strong supportfor either of the hypotheses. The paper stresses that land use data produced byIndian government sources should be strengthened and publication should be madetimely.