Nagaon's Changing Face: What's Happening to Its Land?

Nagaon, Assam has been experiencing rapid growth over the past 30 years, but this expansion has been unorganized and unplanned.

Land Use Changes: A Shift from Green to Concrete

• Built-up land has increased by 0.32 sq km annually.
• Vegetation cover has decreased by 0.47 sq km annually.

The city is becoming more concrete and less green, impacting livability and sustainability.

Uneven Growth Patterns

Growth is concentrated in the northern, northeastern, and western parts of the city, following patterns known as "edge expansion" and "leapfrog development."

Measuring Urban Sprawl

Researchers used Gini coefficient and Shannon entropy model to analyze growth:

• Gini coefficient decreased from 0.71 to 0.55 (indicating less centralized growth).
• Shannon entropy value increased from 4.70 to 5.90 (indicating more spread-out growth).

Other metrics like edge density, patch density, and largest shape index increased, while the largest patch index decreased, confirming urban sprawl.

The Need for Sustainable Planning

Nagaon's growth may not be sustainable in its current form. City planners must address this issue to ensure balanced and organized development.

This study provides new insights for policymakers to manage urban expansion effectively.