Analysis of Land Use/Land Cover Changes and D...

Analysis of Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Driving Forces: A Case Study of Haryana

Author Name : Dr. Parveen Rani Khatri

ABSTRACT:  Land use and land cover (LULC) change is a critical indicator of agricultural sustainability, urbanisation, and environmental transformation. This study examines temporal changes in LULC in Haryana, India, over a period of approximately five decades (1966–67 to 2015–16) using official land-use statistics compiled by the Government of Haryana. The analysis encompasses thirteen land-use categories including net area sown, forests, fallow land, barren and unculturable land, land under non-agricultural uses, and culturable waste, among others. Results reveal that land under non-agricultural uses expanded dramatically from 257 thousand hectares (1966–67) to 521 thousand hectares (2015–16), reflecting rapid urbanisation and infrastructure expansion. Forest cover declined sharply from 91 to 38 thousand hectares during the same period. The net area sown remained relatively stable, while the total cropped area increased from 4,599 to 6,578 thousand hectares, signifying a substantial rise in cropping intensity driven by the Green Revolution. District-level analysis for 2015–16 reveals pronounced spatial heterogeneity in land-use patterns. The study identifies urbanisation, agricultural intensification, policy interventions, and demographic pressure as the primary driving forces behind the observed LULC changes. The findings have significant implications for land-use planning and sustainable agricultural development in Haryana.