LANDUSE PLANNING, PRIORITIES AND MANAGEMENT

BY I L SNEHA (1221112112) M MANASA (1221112117) R S SNIGDHA (1221112131)

DEFINITION

Land use planning is a systematic and iterative procedure carried out in order to create an enabling environment for sustainable development of land resources which meets peoples needs and demands.

It assesses the physical, socio-economic, institutional and legal potentials and constraints with respect to an optimal and

sustainable use of natural resources and empowers people to make decisions about how to allocate those resources.

RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

Ever since independence, India's planners and Policy makers have shown concern for efficient use of land, water and other natural resources for accelerated as well as sustainable economic development.

The questions of efficiency, equity and environment protection have been flagged in almost all Five Year Plans.

It is often reported that the problems of land degradation and groundwater depletion have assumed serious proportions in many areas which threaten not only the sustainability of agriculture, but also the

overall livelihood system of the people.

Need for Land Use Planning

In a developing country like India, land is not only an important factor Of Production, but also the basic means of subsistence (if not prosperity) for majority of the people.

Agriculture contributes less than 30 percent to India's Gross Domestic Product, but absorbs nearly 64 percent of the country's working

population.

Land sector cannot bear the burden of growing population, not withstanding the untapped potentials for agricultural productivity growth in many regions.

All lands and locations are not equally suitable for profitable, alternative farming and hence, there is need for cluster approach to development.

Land is required for both agriculture and non-agricultural purposes, including establishment of industries, housing, roads, parks, railway lines etc.

The

problem

arises

because

market

driven,

albeit

unplanned

diversification as well as urbanization often results in non-sustainable

patterns of development.

A market driven land use pattern may yield higher returns in the short run, but may pose several unmanageable problems for future generations due to unplanned overexploitation of land, water and other natural resources.

Hence arises the need for appropriate land use planning. The development process should be sustainable both in the short run and long run, based on conservation, of land, water, plant and animal genetic resources.

LANDUSE PLANNING
Mainly three planning levels

State level planning (State level Plans or Programmes) Regional (District) Planning (Regional Plans) Municipal Planning (Master Plans and Lay-Out Plans)

Process oriented

Upper planning level guides development at lower planning level, while the lower planning levels provide input into the plans development at higher planning levels.
Collaboration and co-ordination between concerned governmental authorities is compulsory and the necessary procedures to be followed are relatively strict. Social groups and general public are involved.

Plans summarise future demands

All plans summarise the socially accepted future demand for land and resources identified in a democratically organised process involving all social groups and the general public. National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning NRSA conducted land use survey using Remote Sensing Technique in the year 1988-89. Has 22 categories of land use: Built up land Agricultural land Fallow land Plantations Forests Wastelands etc.

Changes in Land use Patterns Over Time By State

Area Under Detailed Land Use/Land Cover Categories, India

Area Under Various Categories of Wastelands by State

Land use Conflicts in India

"We don't want compensation or any relief package in exchange of the land we are depended upon. The government should use waste land for industry- Ramanbhai Patel, a farmer from Hirapur Farmers to launch protest against land acquisition in Gujarat; Dec 9, 2009, Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: PTI In the Indian reform story, policies on land have been the least reformed one. Leaders need to define and reconcile between cultivated land and industrial land, because agriculture also needs to be efficient. There should be no long term detriment to land owners.- Ratan Tata, Industrialist Indian Express, Dec 22 2009, 08:45 hrs Mumbai

Farmers' protest in Delhi underscores India's land woes-August 26, 2010; International Business Times In New Delhi, about 15,000 flag-waving, slogan-shouting farmers squatted at a square near parliament after being stopped by police in riot gear. Farmers protest against land acquisition in Chattisgarh, 78 held-The Times of India, Jan 19, 2011 78 Farmers protesting against forcible acquisition of their land for a 3600 mw power plant were arrested and several others lathi charged in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir Champa district.

India: Uttar Pradesh farmers protest spreads-Todays News; May 9th, 2011
A protest by thousands of farmers against alleged forced acquisition of land has spread to parts of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Power plants protest shows industry - farmer rift-Published on Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:34 | Source : Reuters Hundreds of stone-hurling farmers protested in Uttar Pradesh against the takeover of their land for two proposed power plants on Friday, police said, spotlighting challenges the country faces in building infrastructure.

Key Concerns

Industry is one of the major drivers for land use changes Lack of integrated spatial planning-Spatial planning (State Plans, Regional Plans, Master Plans etc.) where sites/zones for setting up of industries or industrial estates are specified has limited existence.

Haphazard land use changesHousing/residential areas Commercial areas Amenities and facilities such as schools, hospitals, hotels etc. Infrastructure, viz. roads, rail etc. Water, waste water and waste storage/treatment installations Ancillary industries and service industry

Pollution and disaster threats Handling, storage and transportation of hazardous

chemicals/materials Emission of pollutants including toxic emissions

Effluents, especially those that are not easily biodegradable and

toxic Pollution of ground water, streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, or other

bodies of water. Hazardous wastes liquids, solids, contained

gases or sludges. Industrial disaster risks and natural disaster risks

Over exploitation of resources

Eg. Inadequate water to cater to both industry and agriculture

Emerging issues

The Low level of agricultural productivity coupled with inadequate farm and non-farm diversification, low level of technological change and lack of infrastructural facilities of irrigation, roads, market etc. act as major constraints to rural development in general.

But high rates of soil erosion, land degradation and groundwater depletion in many regions due to indiscriminate use of land, water and other natural resources have posed additional threat to ecological balance and sustainability of livelihood system of the people.

Therefore, any planning for land use should attempt to solve the general problems of underdevelopment and arrest area specific nonsustainable trends and patterns of development.

All types of lands and locations are not equally suitable for profitable, albeit alternative enterprises. Hence, cluster approach to development, based on agroclimatic as well as techno-economic potentials of each region would be essential.

The Agro-climatic Regional Planning Unit of the Planning Commission, ICAR, Land Use Boards and several other organizations have generated lot of data and also developed plans for efficient use of land for a number of selected areas.

Finally, there is need for update and accurate land use data for various regions. The differences in data from the available sources would have to be reconciled.

Land use management suggestions

Initiate integrated spatial planning Undertake land use planning for Special/priority Areas. Identify and plan industrial Investment Regions minimizing conflicts with agricultural use. Identify/demarcate preferential lands, other than agricultural lands, for developmental activities Identify/demarcate preferential lands, other than agricultural lands, for developmental activities. Identify/demarcate preferential lands, other than agricultural lands, for developmental activities. Relocation of polluting industries and Industrial Estates/Clusters from agricultural areas

National level and state land use policy to be developed for

protecting agricultural land use while achieving developmental objectives.

Guidelines for land use planning and management to be

developed for all key sectors.

Bring in legal provisions wherever required. Develop policies/guidelines /actions/rules for regulating

conversion of agricultural land use and protection of agricultural lands.