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IMPACTS OF URBANISATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE OF ZIRO VALLEY,ARUNACHAL PRADESH

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Tanmoy Mondal1 and Biplab Tripathy2
Assistant Professor, 2Associate Professor, Department of Geography,
Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Email: tanmoygeo132@gmail.com, tripathy.biplab@gmail.com

How to cite this paper:
MondalTanmoyandTripathy
Bipalb(2023)
Impacts of Urbanisation on
Environmental Change of
Ziro
Valley,Arunachal
Pradesh, Journal of Global
Resources, Vol. 09 (01)DOI:
10.46587/JGR.2023.v09i01.001

Received: 18 Oct.2022
Reviewed: 30 Nov. 2022
Final Accepted: 18 Dec. 2022

Abstract: Urbanization is a process of growth of cities andtown; which is directly linked to the degradation ofenvironmental quality and the quality of water, air and noise.
Ziro valley, the place has an imposing landscape of beautiful
lush green forest, rivulets, and elevated patches. It is famousfor paddy cum pisciculture cultivation. The area is renowned
for the terrace paddy fields where the unique system of polyculture and water management is practiced by local people.
But due to rapidly increase of urban area in Ziro valley, theenvironment become changed day by day. The purpose of
the paper is to present the effects on environment due tourbanization in Apatani society in Ziro valley of Lower
Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. There are several
areas where urbanization has affected along withenvironment settings. The induced of development ofurbanization which is affected on the balance of theecosystem in the valley portion. The study based on
secondary data, satellite image, photography etc. andprimary sources, the study area map has prepared through
QGIS.
Key words: Urbanisation, Environment Degradation, Biotic
Life, Pisciculture, Water Management.

1introduction
Urbanization is the process of transformation of agricultural land into densely cities. Urban
areas can grow from increases populations who are migrated from rural area into urban areas.
Urbanization is the results of deforestation, habitat loss, and the extraction of freshwater fromthe environment, which can decrease the biodiversity. Human activities in urban areas, like theburning of fossil fuels and wastages of household and industrial material also increase
pollinations in the environment that can affect the health of people and other species ofenvironment. According to definition of Wikipedia, “Urbanization refers to the population shift
from rural to urban areas, the decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and theways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly the process by which towns
and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central
areas.”
Arunachal Pradesh is situated north eastern part of India. Most of part of this state ismountain region. So, the urbanization in this state began later and slowly spared in the state.
The present condition of urbanization in the State creates many towns. Due to population size
the towns are qualified as the urban status without necessary infrastructures. The urbanizationof Arunachal Pradesh is unplanned. So, the impact of urbanization is destructing the social
forestry and it is degrading the environment. Due to unplanned construction is leading various
problems like landslide, soil erosion, water logging etc. The agricultural land, forest areas arecoming in urban area and day by day the environment of Arunachal Pradesh rapidly degrades.
Ziro valley is one of the oldest towns of Arunachal Pradesh which is a district
headquarter of Lower Subansiri district and the valley is situated around 115 km from the state
capital of Itanagar. It is the land of Apatani community; there is no written record when thesettlement was started. The historical evidence found in different parts of Upper Subansiri and
Pij Cholo peak and upper Kamala valley of Hure remains the footprints of Apatani migrationand their Neolithic tools and pottery work found of the Apatani community. It is the famous for
its canopy cover of the mountain ridges and rice fields; Ziro Valley is also included in the list of
UNESCO World Heritage Site for the Apatani cultural landscape and their unique agricultural
system. The Apatanis are among the few tribes in the world who continue to worship nature.
It is their relation with the nature that regulates their cultural practices. All the traditional
festivals are in a way, celebration of nature.
Agriculture is the mainstay for the Apatani community people. At the same time, they
practice wet rice cultivation cum fish cultivation. This practice has boosted their economy andfood supply. The system of integrated farming using combination of paddy and fish together,is claimed to be the most productive and efficient agricultural systems in the state. Apatanis
share a deep relationship with their land, forests, water and agriculture and use their resources
wisely; every inch of cultivable land is use to its fullest. One can see millets grown on the bunds
constructed in between paddy fields. Urbanization is a universal phenomenon which is growing
rapidly. In Arunachal Pradesh the urban area growing fast, which is create problem inbiodiversity. Due to urbanization, Arunachal Pradesh lost the agricultural land, forest area andbrings change in climate system. Urbanization also affects in environment of Ziro valley that’s
why possibilities of loss of flora and fauna is increased day by day.

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Plate 01: Nature and agriculture Field of Ziro Valley

Source: Photo courtesy- (Seema Sonar)

Objective
The paper will focus on the traditional practice of agriculture of Apatani people in Ziro valley
and its geographic location and how urbanization has increased in study area gradually.
Discuss the problems with increasing urban growth in Ziro valley with a corelated study ofpresent and past settlement.
Methodology
The study has done based on the secondary data and tertiary sources. The secondary data
has collected from different sources like research articles from different journals, books,
reports, websites, and newspapers etc. whereas different open map sources and satellite
images have used as tertiary data. To prepared the location map of study area Arunachal
Pradesh state map, Lower Subansiri district and Ziro circle maps are digitised by using QGIS
3.14 version software in GIS lab of AUS. To analyse the growth of population in study area
census data has used. Different satellite images have collected from Google Earth and Google
map website for identification of past and present situation.
Study Area-The Landscape of Ziro Valley
The study area is located in Ziro valley, Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. It lies
at an altitude of 1750 meters and old Ziro valley at 1600 meters and Hapoli town of Ziro valley
situated at 1570 meters from the sea level. Extent of area is between 27°32' to 27°37' N latitudeand between 93°48' to 93°52' E longitude. The valley is situated at the central part of Arunachal
Pradesh. The Ziro valleys have an area of 1058 km2 of which 32 km2 under agricultural andremaining under forest, plantation and settlement. The climate of Ziro during summer makes
it a favoured destination for vacation; it is relatively pleasant throughout the year. The valley
experience moderate rainfall and snowfall throughout the years. Due to sub-Himalayan climate
with moderate sunshine, rainfall and strong winter makes the valley a paradise of tall trees andfoliage. The land and climate conditions are favourable for agricultural.
The entire region of Ziro valley falls within the heavy rain zone. The Monsoon starts
from the month of March/April and continues till the month of September. The annual rainfall
is 2240-2910 mm with the maximum rainfall during the month of June and July. The minimum
and maximum temperature during summer is 6.5°C and 29°C respectively and that of winteris 1.0°C and 19°C respectively. Thus, it is characterized by cold, humid, high-altitude type of3

climate, where relative humidity remains constant between 70 – 80 percent. The place issurrounded by hills and forest and river (Kiile) passing through the valley. This kiile river act as
the main source of supplying the water to the agriculture fields of Ziro valley. Once the valley
was remained as swampy and there lived a reptile – Buru in local it means for Crocodile. The
settlement area is mostly found in the adjacent part of the valley. There are mainly seven main
villages and two towns. Old Ziro is town located at the northern part of the valley, the distance
between Ziro and Old Ziro is nearly 6.0 km. The village’s houses are constructed in a compact
manner. Several paddy fields were brought under the construction of roads. Today hugechanges can be seen like in commercial and settlement setup as compared to the past.
Figure 01: Location Map of Ziro Valley

Figure 02: Satellite Image of Ziro Valley

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Agricultural Practice in Ziro Valley
The Apatanis people are practice aquaculture along with rice farming on their plots. Rice - fishculture in the valley is a unique practice in the state, where two crops of rice (Mipya and Emoh)and one crop of fish (Ngihi) are raised together. Integrating aquaculture with agriculture
assures higher productivity and year-round employment opportunities for farmers. Organic
inputs are used in the plots utilised for rice cum fish culture. The Apatanis have developed amultipurpose water management system, which integrates land, water and farming systems
by protecting against soil erosion, conserving water for irrigation and paddy-cum-fish culture.
It is managed by diverting streams which connected each field with bamboo or pinewood pipe.
The streams are trapped into a major channel and again redistributed to numerous secondary
channels to convey water in each and every field plots. The irrigation systems are managed
by a group of farmers led by Bogo Ahtoh to ensure proper supply and sharing of water. The
household’s waste water drained to the irrigation canals provides good source of manure in
the field. Soil nutrients are also maintained through recycling of agricultural wastes, paddy
straw, rice husk, ash, weeds, etc. After the harvest free cattle grazing is allowed to add green
manure. They also used decomposed leaf for soil nutrients. The Practices of agro-forestry inZiro valley in particular areas as grazing ground, sacred groves, plantations areas, etc. hashelped maximum utilization of limited land to produce various resources while sustaining
agriculture with improved yields. So, in present world, such traditional ecological knowledge
has special value.
Plate 02: Agricultural Land of Ziro Valley.

Source: Photo courtesy- (Seema Sonar)

Urbanization in Ziro Valley
The process of urbanization in Ziro valley has been started since 1952 with the administrative
centre at Old Ziro. The intensity of development and the migration to Ziro town began muchlater. Infrastructure development is an indicator of urbanization and also a sign ofmodernization. Urbanisation brings about social and cultural changes in community life, whichis also a step towards modernization. The rapid growths of shop and market in the centre partof the urban area of Ziro valley and also its surrounding area, which led to the massconcentration of population and building construction in this valley. Due to increasing the urban
population and infrastructures, there the drainage problems and proper garbage disposal
system are hampered day by day in the market and other areas. So, these problems areaffected on environment of Ziro town.
The urban area shifted from old Ziro to Ziro (Sadar) because of well connectivity fromthe capital, modern administrative machinery and the induced of political development. In theyear of 2001 the development was started in this valley and today there is no empty place to5build the house so urban area captures the agriculture and forest area. Due to growth of urban
area the pollution is increased day by day which create problem in environment. Some spices
are reduced from this valley.
Figure 03: Satellite images showing trend of urbanization from 2001 to 2021 in Ziro
Valley of Lower Subansiri

Source: Google Earth

Plate 03: Increasing the Settlement Area beside the Agricultural land of Ziro Valley

Source: Photo courtesy- (Seema Sonar)

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Plate 04: Hapoli town of Ziro Valley

Source: Photo courtesy- (Seema Sonar)

The Growth of infrastructures is attraction of the nearby villagers that is why increaseof settlement haphazardly in the urban area. The unplanned and haphazard settlements bringan issue both for the government department and for the public. There is a compact settlement
are seen in different parts of the urban areas in Ziro valley with a different style of modern andtraditional house. The colony roads are not safe during the night time and also the roadconditions of this area are very bad. Due to growth of the urban area the swampy and marshy
land, forest area, agriculture lands are used for housing purpose. The streams are polluted
due to human waste. As a result, the breadth of the stream and biotic life in the Ziro valley are
greatly affected and also reduced the agricultural and forest area.
Plate 05: Changes of Agricultural Land in Ziro Valley

Source: Photo courtesy- (Seema Sonar)7

It is cleared that; from the above picture the urbanization captures the agricultural land
and the people are build the settlement haphazardly. Before 12 years from 2022 there is
agricultural land where the Apatani people farming different type of rice crops. The most of that
agricultural land are privet and the owners are lived in urban area. The agriculture work was
managed by the group of people is called patang ajng but due to urbanization and education
development the people of patang ajing numbers have declined very fast, presently the
women’s are managed the paddy field in this valley. At Present the quality of water isdecreased due to wastage material and also house, road constructions, so when the polluted
water enters into rice field the production of crops and fishes are declined which is affect thefarmer life.
Table 01: Showing the Growth of Urban population of Lower Subansiri Dist. 1991-2011

Year
1991
2001
2011

Total Population
83167
55726
83030

Urban Population
8862
12384
12806

Rural Population
74305
43342
70224

Source: Census data of 1991(http://lsi.gov.in), 2011 (www.censusindia2011.co.in)
Figure 05: Showing the Population in Ziro Valley

Figure 04: Growth of Urban Pop. in Lower Subansiri Dist.

The population of urban area are increased in Lower Subansiri district day by day. In
2011 the number of total urban population is 12806 persons where record increased theprevious total number of 8862 in 1991. In Ziro Valley due development the main attraction of
the village people so the village people are migrated from village and build their home in the
town that is why the urban population is increased in this valley. The census data shows thatthe population of rural is decreased. Hapoli is the main town of Ziro Valley. So, the othercommunity peoples are also lived permanently or temporarily who are coming from different
point for work or other purposes. Generally, the other people and also other tribal people
cannot buy the land here but presently the landowners are selling the land to other person,
that’s why day by day the population growth is increased through internal and external way. In
1991 where the rural population is high but in 2001 and 2011 the rural population is decreased
and the urban population is increased because of different type of facilities are available. The
growth percentage of urban population represented that, in census year 2011 maximum
number of urban population has increased, approx. 74.50 percent where as in the census year
1991 it was only 25.57 percent. Although the census year of 2011 represented a decadal rateof urban population of 56.30 percent but the increasing settlement has decreased the green
land or agricultural land of study area.

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Table 02: Percentage of Urban Population
Total Urban Population
Percentage of Urban Population
8862
25.56
12384
74.50
12806
56.30

Census Year
1991
2001
2011

Source: Census Data of government of India, 2011.

https://censusindia.gov.in

Figure 06: Trend of Urban Population Growth

percent of Urban
Population

Percentage of Urban Population
80
60
40% of Urban Population

20
0
1991

2001
Census Year

2011

Table 03: ST, SC and other Population in Ziro Valley
Name of the
Total
ST
SC
CirclePopulation
Population
Population
1991
34661
27870
115
1
2001
Ziro(Sadar)
24703
19867
104
2011
22747
17742
0
2
2011
Old Ziro
19605
18177
0
Source: Census Data of government of India, 2011. https://censusindia.gov.in
#

Year

Other
Population
6676
4732
5005
1428

Figure 07: Population Structure of Ziro Valley, 2011

Population of Ziro (Sadar)
80000
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0

Other Population
SC Population
ST Population

Total Population

1991

2001

2011

In the year 1991 the ST population is 80.40 percent, SC population is 0.33 percent andthe other population is 19.26 percent and 2001 census ST population is 80.42 percent is, The
SC population is 0.42 percent and the other population is 19.16 percent so the SC and otherpopulation is decreased but the ST population is increased but in 2011 census year the otherpopulation is 22 percent which is increased then the 1991 and 2001 census year and the ST
population is 80 percent which is decreased. So, the other population are increased day by
day because of increased the facility like electricity, large market, banking facility, government
department is closer, medical, education institution, recreation and service centre for family
outing. So, the rapidly grow the population in Ziro Valley, the Hapoli town is expanding in length9and breadth by occupying the nearby isolated dry land, bamboo groves, forest, and agriculture
fields. Due to occupied the river and forest area the environmental problem is increased day
by day in Ziro valley and another side due to capture of agricultural land the production of cropand fish are decreased which create the economic problem of famer.
Impact of Urbanisation
Urbanisation and development are related to each other. So, we can develop the urban area
without affecting the physical change but the people gradually bring the changes in urban area
to construction of roads into the rice fields, garden, bamboo groves and forest which affect theenvironmental ecology. The construction of malls and selection of the area for administrative
offices change the landscape in town area and also in village areas. Large forest area andagriculture plots was taken away for the construction of roads, building, administrative office
which reduced the agricultural land and forest area as a result the animal are homeless and itis create problem in food chain. Due to development activities, reduced the varieties ofendangered flora and fauna in this valley. So due to urbanization rapidly change theenvironment and also find that various impact in environment.
• The creation of urban heat island: Due to various construction materials like
concrete, tin, bricks etc. absorb and reflect the solar energy than the vegetation andsoil and the town remain warm in night when the nearby area already cooled. So due
to urbanization the temperature gradually changes in Ziro Valley which create problem
in flora and fauna.
Figure 08: Ziro Valley Temperature Graph

Average Temperaturein Degree

Temperature Graph
25.5
25
24.5
24
23.5
23
22.5
22

Temperature

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Year
Source: www.timeanddate.com/weather

•

•

•

As per graphical analysis of temperature of last 10 years, Ziro valley becomes
more too warmer then past. Almost 1°C has increased from 24.08°C to 25.08 °C fromthe period of 2011 to 2021. So climatologically, there Ziro valley becomes changing its
atmosphere and its increasing has proved it.
Changes in Air Quality: The various activities of people emissions carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, ozone, sulphur oxides, led and many pollutants which degraded
the air quality. In Ziro Valley due to private car and reduced forest area the different
type of gases is increased in the air.
Quality of Water: Sometime the people are throwing the wastages material in the riveror in drain which degraded the water quality. Due to pollution of river in Ziro valley the
production of paddy and fish near the Hapoli town is decrease.
Changing the land use pattern: The construction of the housing complex, market,
administrative infrastructure led to deforestation and the shortage of wood at the

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•

•

•

•

•

beginning of the development. The agriculture plots were taken away for theconstruction of airfield, administrative building and roads. A large number of trees were
cut down for the ring road. Due to development activities, verities of endangered flora
perished from Ziro Valley and other side, several verities of animal species and bird
species are displaced from their original inhabitants or killed. So, the land use patternchanged due to develop.
Map No 3, proved that day by day settlement has increased in the Ziro valley. So, theland use patterns are changed in Ziro valley.
Environmental Pollution: The different types of pollutants material are often
dispersed across the city or town. In Ziro valley the garbage system is very poor due
to the lack of human power, materials, and financial position and also in Ziro town lacks
proper drainage system, dustbin for waste materials. So, the people thrown thewastage material here and there and the wastage material spared the gas which isaffect the environment.
Problem on Biosphere: Due to extend the urban area in Ziro Valley the flora andfauna are affected, so some time flora and fauna are died or changing their habits. Ziro
valley is rich for its animal and bird species. It is home of various wild animal like deer,
tiger, leopard, monkey, squirrel, kingfisher, hornbill, and woodpecker but due tourbanization and reduced the forest area this animal is homeless. The local birds like
Crow, Hawk, Eagle and house sparrow have been declined in the past few years due
to pollution. The rising of the population in the urban areas in recent time brings
changes in the natural surrounding and local environmental changes.
Soil Pollution: Soil pollution is increased in Ziro Valley due to Urbanization. It is causesby the dumping of waste. So, the fertility of soil is decreased and the production of
paddy and other vegetable is low. It is also affecting the human body.
Increasing the greenhouse gas: Due to increase the number of vehicles and uses ofother electronic material increased the greenhouse gas and other side due to cuttingof the tree for the development the forest area is decreased. So, the greenhouse gas
increased in Ziro Valley.
Noise Pollution: Due to constant noise of traffic, the noise pollution is increased in
Ziro valley which create problem in wild life so the wild animal going far from the town
and its one of the major problems of environment.

The new pattern of life style, rise in pollution from the increasing vehicles andconstruction sites, contamination of water had harmed both human and animal population,haphazard and unplanned housing, lack of proper drainage, and changing environment has
detrimental role for increasing the rate of disease and sickness in the society.
Conclusion
Urbanisation is universal process which changes the society in various sides like infrastructure,social life, economic condition etc. but it has various positive and negative sides. Urbanisationin Ziro valley is seemed to be based because of administrative setup. It is political mobilizationthat has changed the traditional heredity based administrative system and reduced into a justcultural representative for the community. The economic structures have changed over theperiod of time, the practices and imparting knowledge is at peril stage. With present situation
it is certain that the popular agriculture cum fish cultivation of the community is belongs indanger zone because of environmental changes. The consumption pattern of the people has
also been changed. The urbanisation and development activities in the valley is need but it is11duty for all local people and also the local government to develop in sustainable way andconserve the endangered flora and fauna to balance the biodiversity.
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