In the heart of West Bengal, India, a silent transformation is underway. Bankura, a district rich in natural resources and cultural heritage, is experiencing rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes that could reshape its environmental and economic landscape. A recent study, led by Debabrata Nandi from the Department of Remote Sensing & GIS at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, has shed light on these changes, offering insights that could influence sustainable development and energy sector investments in the region.
Nandi and his team employed a sophisticated blend of remote sensing, geospatial techniques, and machine learning algorithms to track LULC changes in Bankura over three decades, from 1990 to 2024. Using supervised classification methods like Support Vector Machine (SVM), Maximum Likelihood (ML), and Random Forest (RF), they identified significant shifts in land use categories, including dense forest, open forest, water bodies, agricultural land, settlements, barren land, and sand.
The findings are stark. Built-up land has increased by approximately 13.6%, primarily at the expense of agricultural land and forest cover. “We observed a significant decrease in agricultural land by 11.45% and dense forest cover by 7.75%,” Nandi noted. This transformation, driven by anthropogenic activities, underscores the urgent need for sustainable land use planning and conservation efforts.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. As built-up areas expand, so does the demand for energy infrastructure. However, the loss of forest cover and agricultural land could also impact renewable energy projects, such as biomass and solar farms, which rely on these very resources. “Sustainable land use planning is crucial for mitigating adverse environmental impacts and preserving ecological balance,” Nandi emphasized. This balance is key to ensuring resilient urban management and sustainable development.
The study, published in the journal ‘AIMS Environmental Science’ (which translates to ‘American Institute of Mathematical Sciences Environmental Science’), highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and further investigation into socio-economic drivers and environmental consequences. By leveraging space-based inputs and geospatial techniques, stakeholders can make informed decisions that foster sustainable growth.
As Bankura stands at the crossroads of development and conservation, this research serves as a guiding light. It calls for a holistic approach to land use planning, one that harmonizes economic growth with environmental stewardship. For the energy sector, this means investing in ecologically sensitive infrastructure and exploring innovative solutions that minimize environmental impact.
In the words of Nandi, “Our findings underscore the importance of reforestation, preserving water bodies, and developing ecologically sensitive infrastructure.” By heeding this call, Bankura can pave the way for a sustainable future, setting a precedent for regions grappling with similar challenges. The journey towards sustainable development is complex, but with the right tools and insights, it is a path well worth tread.