Human-induced alterations, particularly channelization and land use changes, have significantly modified the fluvial landscape around urban centres. This study aims to assess the spatio-temporal extent of areal changes due to human impact on the Lower Ajay River Basin (LARB) at block and basin levels. The Index of Potential Anthropic-Geomorphology (IPAG), derived from District Census Handbook (DCH) data (1960–2031), was applied to quantify long-term anthropogenic modifications. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery (1992–2022) was used to map land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics, while spatial hotspots of human intervention were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. Landscape fragmentation was further evaluated through the Landscape Fragmentation Tool in ArcGIS. Results reveal strong spatio-temporal variability of human impacts: Faridpur-Durgapur recorded the highest IPAG value (0.64 in 1961), whereas Kanksa exhibited the lowest (0.17). From 1992 to 2022, the lower Ajay sub-watershed experienced high to very high anthropogenic pressures, while moderate pressures were concentrated in most of the sub-basins of Lower Ajay River Basin (LARB). Fragmentation analysis indicated a consistent rise in patch areas, while other landscape classes declined. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated land use planning, basin-scale management, and restoration strategies to mitigate growing human-induced geomorphic stress.
Karikar et al. (Thu,) studied this question.