Subhash Anand

Rapid urbanization in Delhi has intensified pressure on urban infrastructure, environmental resources, and the overall quality of life of residents. This study assesses urban sustainability and quality of life in the North and South districts of Delhi by examining the role of green infrastructure and socio-environmental conditions. The research adopts a mixed-method approach combining household survey data, remote sensing analysis, and statistical techniques to evaluate spatial and socio-economic variations in urban sustainability. Vegetation dynamics were examined using satellite-derived vegetation indices, while primary survey data were used to evaluate access to basic urban services such as water supply, sanitation, healthcare, education, waste management, and income levels. The findings reveal notable spatial disparities in green infrastructure distribution and access to basic services between the two districts. South Delhi generally demonstrates better access to socio-economic resources and planned green spaces, while several areas in North Delhi face challenges related to infrastructure provision and service accessibility. The analysis highlights how differences in urban planning, socio-economic conditions, and infrastructure availability influence residents’ quality of life and environmental sustainability. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of integrating green infrastructure planning with equitable service provision to promote inclusive and sustainable urban development in rapidly expanding metropolitan regions such as Delhi.

This study examines the effects of rapid land use changes in India, with a specific focus on Sonipat District in Haryana—a region undergoing significant urban expansion. Over the past two decades, rural landscapes in Sonipat have undergone notable transformation, as open spaces and agricultural lands are increasingly converted into residential colonies, commercial hubs, and industrial zones. While such changes reflect economic development and urban growth, they also raise critical concerns about sustainability, especially in terms of food security, groundwater depletion, and environmental degradation. The study examines land use changes between 2000 and 2024 using remote sensing techniques and spatial analysis. It further incorporates secondary data and insights from community-level interactions to assess the socio-economic and ecological impacts of this transformation. The findings indicate rising land fragmentation, loss of agricultural livelihoods, pressure on civic infrastructure, and increasing pollution—factors that threaten long-term regional sustainability. The study underscores the urgent need to reconcile urban development with environmental and social sustainability. By offering a detailed case study of Sonipat, this research contributes to the broader discourse on India’s urbanisation pathways. It aims to provide policymakers, planners, and researchers with evidence-based recommendations to manage land transitions more responsibly, promoting urban growth models that ensure ecological integrity, equitable development, and long-term resilience.

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge globally, with South Africa exemplifying the severe socio-economic and environmental impacts of limited water access. Despite advances in modern water management systems, the integration of indigenous knowledge (IK) into formal frameworks remains underutilized. This study systematically reviews the role of indigenous water conservation practices in South Africa, analyzing over 50 high-quality sources using the PRISMA methodology. The findings highlight the effectiveness of IK in addressing water scarcity through techniques such as rainwater harvesting, terracing, and wetland management, which are low-cost, environmentally sustainable, and deeply rooted in cultural practices. Indigenous methods also enhance climate resilience by enabling communities to adapt to droughts and floods through practices such as weather prediction and adaptive farming techniques. Furthermore, these practices foster social inclusivity and community empowerment, ensuring equitable water access and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The study underscores the potential of integrating IK with modern water technologies to create holistic solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and aligned with South Africa’s goal of achieving water security by 2030. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for institutional support, data collection, and financial incentives to sustain and mainstream indigenous approaches. By bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary systems, this research provides a roadmap for leveraging diverse knowledge systems to address water scarcity and build resilient communities.

Land use transformations in Sonipat District, Haryana, driven by urbanization, industrialization, and land acquisitions, have posed significant ecological and socio-economic challenges, particularly concerning food security. This study investigates the interplay between these land use changes and their environmental implications at macro (district) and micro (village) levels, focusing on agricultural productivity and resource sustainability. The study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating secondary data from official datasets and primary data gathered through structured household surveys, focus group discussions, and visual analysis techniques. Data from 20 villages, selected based on predominant land use characteristics, were analysed using statistical and geospatial tools, including ArcGIS and STATA, to quantify food grain losses and evaluate environmental degradation. Findings of this study reveal a 19% reduction in agricultural land over two decades (2000–2024), correlating with increased residential and industrial areas. Groundwater resources face severe overexploitation, with pollution from industrial clusters further degrading water and soil quality. The study estimates a total food grain loss of 1.5 million kilograms across surveyed villages due to land acquisitions. A strong positive correlation (R² = 0.98) between land acquisition and food loss underscores the direct impact of urbanization on agricultural output. The research underscores the urgency of sustainable land management practices, including preserving agricultural lands, optimizing groundwater usage, and enhancing community involvement in planning. By addressing these challenges, the study advocates for balanced urban expansion and food security to ensure ecological and economic resilience in the region.

Patna is among the cities high populated at risk of ecological and environmental deterioration due to a variety of human activities, such as poor land cover management. One of the most crucial elements of a successful land resource management plan is the evaluation of Land Use Land Cover (LULC). Over the past 20 years, our planet's land cover resources have undergone substantial changes due to rapid development. The Land Use Land Cover (LULC) categories of the Patna Urban Agglomeration (PUA), including water bodies, agricultural land, barren land, built-up areas, and vegetation, were identified using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Three multi-temporal images were analyzed and classified through supervised classification using the maximum likelihood method. By comparing three separately created LULC categorized maps from 1990 and 2024, temporal changes were analyzed. In order to update land cover or manage natural resources, it is vital to use change detection as a tool to identify changes in LULC over time in PUA, Patna between 1990, 2010 and 2024. According to their respective Kappa coefficients, the accuracy rates for 1990, 2010 and 2024 LULC are 91.66 and 94.93, respectively. An accuracy evaluation was conducted to determine the correctness of the classification system and to determine the efficacy of the LULC classification maps. One hundred reference test pixels were identified. There have been found significant changes in the LULC were built up area has increased doubled in last thirty-four years of timeline.

In the past two decades, rapid urbanization and population growth have led to significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes in the Ghaziabad district, impacting its natural ecosystem and agricultural development. This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of LULC and its effects on agricultural development during the period 2000 to 2020. Various factors, including human encroachment, industrialization, and excessive resource utilization, have contributed to altering the district's landscape. The research employs multispectral datasets from Landsat satellites, specifically Landsat 5, Landsat 7, and Landsat 8, utilizing Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM), and Operational Land Imager (OLI) data to analyze LULC patterns for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. The analysis was conducted using ERDAS-Imagine 2013 software to process the satellite images and perform accuracy assessments for each period. The results reveal a continuous decline in agricultural land due to the expansion of built-up areas. The increasing urban sprawl and infrastructure development have encroached upon previously cultivated regions, reducing the availability of agricultural land and threatening the sustainability of local farming practices. These findings underscore the challenges faced by agriculture in the district, where urban growth has led to competition for land and resources. Furthermore, the study highlights the ecological consequences of LULC changes, including the disruption of natural habitats and reduced ecosystem services. As the study primarily focuses on understanding the spatio-temporal changes in LULC and their impact on agricultural land, the organic farming sector emerges as a critical aspect of the evolving agricultural landscape. This research also serves as a critical resource for sustainable land management strategies in Ghaziabad, emphasizing the importance of mitigating the adverse effects of LULC changes on agriculture and the broader environment.