A Multi-Criteria Analysis Based Technique to Integrate Socio Economic and Geo-Physical Aspects in Risk Sensitive Land Use Plan: A Case Study on Mirsharai Upazila, Chattogram District, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is a developing and densely populated country. The process of urbanization is increasing day by day in this country. But planned development is challenging here. Bangladesh is the largest delta in the world. Due to geographical location, Bangladesh is naturally prone to disasters. Not only that Bangladesh is also under the thread of global worming and climate change related issues. Although Bangladesh is not contributing much to global greenhouse gas increase, Bangladesh is one of the largest victims of the adverse impacts of global worming and climate change. To reduce the impact and damage it is necessary to formulate risk reduction land use plan incorporating socioeconomic and geo-physical aspects. Mirsharai is a coastal Upazila situated in Chattogram District of Bangladesh. The area is highly prone to disaster and affected by climate change related problems. So, the area is ideal for this kind of study. In this paper, socioeconomic characteristics such as affordability, investment potentiality, demand and need has been analyzed. Result shows that people’s affordability is not good in most of the places of Mirsharai Upazila but in some isolated areas like small urban area or growth centres, people’s affordability and other socioeconomic conditions are good. Geo-physical aspects such as Infrastructure, ground water recharge, water logging tendency, Road accessibility, Ground elevation, Agricultural crop pattern and Land use were used to calculate development suitability and development conflict using Multi-criteria Analysis technique. Based on development suitability and conflict 4 category were identified as highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable and less suitable area for development. Similarly, highly conflicted, conflicted, moderately conflicted and less conflicted areas for development were identified. Finally, by comparing development conflict and suitability maps, a relative development suitability map was produced marking highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, partially unsuitable and completely unsuitable areas for development. These types of socioeconomic and geo-physical condition analysis can help making clear understanding on the study area for making risk sensitive land use plan.