Notes-Class 8-Geography-Chapter-6-Land Use-Maharashtra Board

Land use :

• The way or purpose for which land in a region is used is referred to as land use.
• The interaction between geographical factors and man have influenced the land use
• As man's needs have grown, so has the use of land for various purposes.
• Mining takes place on mineral-rich land. Agriculture is practised on fertile plains.

Types of Land Use

(A) Rural land use :

• The density of population is less in rural areas. The land in rural areas is used for comparatively limited purposes.
• In rural areas, agriculture is the main occupation. Agro based activities are common in rural areas. This influences the location for the rural settlements.

Land use in the rural areas can be classified in the following manner.:

(i) Residential land use :

• Land in rural areas used for settlement.
• Comparatively limited.
• Settlements get developed near the areas of occupations

(ii) Arable land use :

• The use of land for cultivation is called arable land use.
• In India, in 2011, nearly 57 per cent of land was under arable land use.
• Generally, arable land is owned individually.
• The arable land can be classified on the basis of ownership of the land and types of agriculture.

(iii) Fallow land use :

• The agricultural land which is temporarily not in use is called fallow land.
• Fallow land use is a form of rural land use.
• To increase the fertility of soil, farmers do not use a part of agricultural land for few seasons.

 (iv) Forest land use :

• The land kept reserved for forest area is called forest land.
• Large trees, bushes, creepers and grass are found in forest land.
• The forest products like firewood, fruits, flowers, gum, grass, honey, etc. are obtained from forest land.

(v) Grassland land use :

• The land owned by village Panchayat or the government and which is used for grazing purpose is called grassland.
• It is also called pastureland.
• Mostly, grassland is owned by entire village. Very limited individual ownership of grassland is found.

(B) Urban land use :

• In urban areas with reference to population the land is limited.
• The density of population is more in urban areas.
• The land in urban areas is used for comparatively various purposes.

Urban land use is as follows :

(i) Commercial land use :

• The use of urban land for commercial use is called commercial land use.
• Many shops, banks and offices are found in commercial land areas.
• The concept of Central Business District (CBD) has emerged from commercial land use.
• For example, Fort area or BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) in Mumbai are the areas of commercial land use.

(ii) Residential land use :

• The use of urban land for residential purpose is called residential land use.
• Houses and residential buildings are found in residential land areas.
• The density of population is found to be high in urban areas. As its effect, the percentage of residential land use in urban areas is increasing day by day.

(iii) Transport land use :

• The use of urban land for providing transportation facilities is called transport land use.
• The land used for roadways, railways, petrol pumps, vehicle repairing centres, etc. is included in transport land use.

(iv) Public utility area :

• Government provides various services to fulfill the needs of citizens. The land used for fulfilling these needs is known as public utility area.
• Post offices, police stations, public grounds, public schools, public hospitals, etc. are included in public utility area.

(v) Recreational land use :

• Recreational land use is a use of urban land for fulfilling the needs of entertainment of people.
• Public parks, swimming pools, theatres, etc. are included in recreational land use.

(vi) Mixed land use :

• Mixed land use is a use of urban land for fulfilling more than one wants at a time.
• For example, area used for residential and entertainment purposes.

Factors affecting Land Use :

Transitional areas and Suburbs

• Transitional areas are defined as areas that exist between rural and urban settlements.
• Transitional areas are distinguished by their mixed land use and culture.
• Transitional areas eventually become urban areas and then suburbs. Bandra, Bhandup, and other Mumbai suburbs are examples.

Planned cities :

• After industrial revolution, unplanned urbanisation occurred on large scale all over the World.
• During the process of urbanisation, people migrated to cities and cities began to develop in haphazard manner.
• City which is developed as per the pre-determined and planned layout of land use is called planned city.
• Singapore, Seoul from South Korea, Zurich from Switzerland, Washington D.C. from U.S.A., Brasilia from Brazil, Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar from India are the examples of planned cities.

Ownership of land and ownership rights :

(A) 7/12 extract : The information of 7/ 12 extract is as follows :

• 7/ 12 is an extract published and given by public revenue department of the government.
• 7/12 extract gives detailed information of a particular registered land.
• The register of the revenue department keeps a record of details of ownership rights of family, status of debt and loans, transfer of ownership, areas under different crops etc. related to registered land.
• Village form no. 7 and Village form no. 12 are combined and 7/ 12 extract is prepared.
• These village forms are available with the talathi of every village.
• The accurate reading of 7/12 extract gives exact idea about ownership of land, tax levied on land, status of loan taken, etc.

(B) Property card : The information of property card is as follows :

• Property card is the record of ownership of non-agricultural land in urban areas.
• It is issued by city survey office of government.
• Property cards provide details of city survey number, plot number, amount of tax, area of property assessed, right to access, etc.