Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the Wainganga River Basin (Maharashtra) Using Multi-temporal Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract

Land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics play a critical role in shaping hydrological processes, ecological stability, and socio-economic development within river basins. The Wainganga River Basin, a major tributary of the Godavari River system in eastern Maharashtra, has experienced notable land transformation due to agricultural expansion, population growth, and infrastructural development. The present study aims to assess and map the spatial distribution of land use and land cover at a micro-basin level using multi-temporal remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Topographic maps from the Survey of India and satellite imagery were integrated within a GIS environment, and supervised classification methods were employed to generate LULC maps. A total of ten land use and land cover classes were identified, including dense forest, sparse vegetation, open scrub, agriculture, water bodies, barren land, fallow land, settlements, rocky/open spaces, and gravel land. The results indicate that forest cover dominates the basin, accounting for 65.75% of the total geographical area, reflecting the ecological significance of the region. Agricultural land constitutes 14.17% of the basin and remains the primary source of livelihood for the local population, while built-up land occupies only 1.89%, though it is spatially concentrated along river courses and fertile plains. The study highlights the effectiveness of remote sensing and GIS in accurately mapping and analyzing LULC patterns in large river basins. The generated spatial database provides essential inputs for sustainable land use planning, watershed management, and environmental conservation. The findings serve as a scientific baseline for future monitoring of land use changes and support informed decision-making for balanced and sustainable development in the Wainganga River Basin.