Hyderabad: The built up area in the city may be growing at an average of nearly 300 hectares annually, though the level of growth is not proportional. Researchers at JNTU Hyderabad, studying spectral imagery of the city, have found that the maximum growth took place between 2005 and 2009, after which it has been subdued.
 
An assessment of the land use pattern revealed that settlements increased by about 1463 hectare in a six-year period. Most of the settlements have come up in the northwestern and northeastern regions of the city, more specifically, along the highways.
 
Land use pattern in Hyderabad was studied by the researchers using imagery from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s  (Isro) Resourcesat 1 satellite. The team of scientists was led by Dr C.R. Prakash, advisor, Centre for Spatial Information Technology (CIST), JNTU Hyderabad.  Scientists say the lack of any geographical impediment like sea or mountains allowed the city to expand in almost all directions but it has been most remarkable towards the northwest and northeast.
 
“We studied data from even the 1970s for patterns of land utilisation and transformation. But between the years 2005 and 2009, there has been the most remarkable transformation. The expansion is mostly along the highways in the northwest direction and northeast direction,” Prof. Prakash said.
 
The assessment by Prof. Prakash and his team, including CIST head Dr J. Venkatesh, Ms Mahbooba Asra and Dr B. Sreedevi, found that built up area had increased by about 1463 hectare in that period.
 
“It is not exactly increasing on a pro rata basis. In that period between 2005 and 2009, we noticed the biggest increase but after that, increase in settlements have been fairly nominal,” Dr Prakash said.