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Application of Remote Sensing and GIS techniques in monitoring of urban sprawl in and around Jharia coalfields (Dhanbad)
Description of the Study Area
The study area Jharia Coalfield as shown in fig.1 is the only source of prime coking coal in India and has been subjected to unplanned and haphazard mining activities for the last several decades. This belt which forms part of Damodar Valley coal basins is surrounded and directly underlained by archaean gnesis. Exposed rock types belong to talchir and Damuda series of Gondwana Sytem. This Damuda series of Gondwana System. This Damuda series consists of Barakar, Barren measure and Raniganj formations contain famous coal seams. The general landscapes of the area is characterised by undulatory rocky and gritty surface with thin veneer of insitu soil supporting thin and spoadic vegetation.  Data and Methodology The remote sensing images of Landsat-TM acquired Aug. 1990 have been used for present study. The digital data were processed for geometric and radimetric corrections using VGA-ERDASimage processing software. Later a standard false color -composite image was generated using Landsat TM band 2.3 and 4 (visible and near infrared images). This image was filmed and was enlarged to 1:50,000 working scale using PROCOM-2, a high magnification device. This color image was then interpreted using standard photo-interpretration technique based on shape, size & color for delineating urban boundary. In F.C.C. urban area is associated with bluish grey to mottled grey color tone due to presence of plantation and bushes in and around the built up area. Then the aerial extent of the identified urban areas were checked in field at critical spot for overall improvement in mapping accuracy. The status of urban area for the year 1974 was traced from the Survey of India toposheets covered by 73 I/5, 73/I6, 73 I/2, 73 I/1 in 1:50,000 scale. This traced boundary was then superimposed on map of 1990 prepared from remote sensing images and then a changed status map was drawn. 
Urban sprawl and changes in status of urban areas /centres from 1974 to 1990 in the region is shown in fig.2. This clearly shows a big increase is around 60% i.e. 290 Sq.Km. in total study area of 720Sq. Km. of Jharia Coalfield. This has given a growth rate of 4% per year which is much faster than compared previous 60 to 70 years of mining history in the region, Srivastava (1991). This is probably due to fact that the status of 1974 represents the scenario just prior to nationalisation of coal mining industry and till then the operating mining companies, and local people were not concern about the housing and proper growth of the township. The urban areas grew only in and around of working sites and so no significant urban sprawl was observed in the previous periods. But during 16 years of nationalisation township were developed away from the over crowded old urban areas particularly for providing clear environment of living. So a high urban growth rate was observed during this period. Many new centres of urban growth came up oin addition to increase in dimension of earlier settlement centres. However agglomerates of built up areas were seen more in the eastern part of the study area than in other part. Significnt growth occurred in and around Dhanbad in the north east, Karas in the north, Jharia in the east and Baghmare, Mahuda, Bokaro in the west. It is further observed that the urban sprawl has consumed surrounding agricultural and flat upland but leaving the derelict land on rural-urban fringe has not only spoil the aesthetic value of landscape but has also hindered the further development of this region. This unplanned growth has altered the terrain and slope characteristics of the area causing change in surface drainage system and indirectly affecting geohydrology of the region. The change in geohydrological environment has badly affected the greenery in the region both in respect of quality and lessening of vegetation cover in Jharia Coalfield. Conclusion From present study through Landsat-TM F.C.C. image in combination with Survey of India topo sheet and other available maps it has been possible to delineate macro level changes in urban area on regional scale. Study has also shown that the urban the urban growth which is around 4% per year has been haphazard and irregular during the last 16 years i.e. since 1974. The growth has been basically taken place on surrounding agricultural and flat Upland leaving derelict land due to mining and waste dump region as isolated patches in between settlement centres. Such development has changed the terrain and slope characteristics of the region and hence affected the surface drainage system as well as water infilteration ratio causing depletion of ground water region. This changes in drainage and ground water level have resulted in lose and in the region. These factors have caused general degradation in the environment of the region. Finally the study has demonstrated the importance of integrated study satellite remote sensing images in conjunction with other geographic maps and GIS data base. The technique is cost effective faster compared to conventional method of urban data acquisition and survey methods. References
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