Urbanisation and tank systems adjoining Hyderabad—a rapid assessment using remote sensing techniques

Abstract

Hyderabad in the Deccan plateau forms a distinct socio-cultural and natural setting and is known for its water bodies such as tanks and reservoirs formed with a long history that still continue to influence the livelihoods of many. Hyderabad’s urbanisation with drivers such as rapid industrialisation, surge in IT industry, housing for different classes of population, real estate boom, etc., have exerted tremendous pressure on the tank systems. The present study taken up in Sangareddy district, Telangana, with a prime objective to bring out effects of urbanisation on tank systems and map the spatial and temporal changes of tank catchments, submergence and command area using the Remote sensing techniques. Multi Spectral LANDSAT series and Sentinel 2 data from 2004 to 2016 are used to study the change pattern and understand the changes in terms of plotting, construction and other uncultivated areas. The Satellite data analysed supported by ground truth and relevant secondary data indicates that the tank systems are prone to severe degradation affecting the inflows, storage, irrigation, groundwater recharge and other indirect livelihoods like fisheries. More than 50% of the command area is lost in the last 15 years.