Abstract:
Land use / land cover information is the
basic pre-requisite for managing land, water and
vegetation resources. The information on land use /
land cover available today in the form of thematic
maps and published statistical figures in records.
Publications are inadequate, inconsistent, and do not
provide updated information on the changing land use
patterns, process and their spatial distribution. A
comprehensive household sample survey, enterprise
sample survey, institutional survey and formal
interviews were carried out as primary data source. In
order to supplement the data gathered in the field,
secondary data were gathered such as relevant research
reports and articles written on the town and its
functions, land issues and official publications and
reports issued by the UDA, Land Commissioners
Department, Title Settlement Department and the
Department of Census and Statistics, publications by
relevant authorities. The samples were processed and
analyzed using advanced spatial information
techniques. Geographic Information System (GIS) has
been utilized to generate maps and diagrams and to
find suitable areas for the stipulated criteria. The
current research focused the main characteristics of the
Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat area and its
immediate periphery. However, the area covering the
coastal belt will be considered as the potential
development areas.
Further the rapid development such as high ways,
Oluvil port project, urbanization, re-greening projects,
etc., after the disaster (war & tsunami) are the prime
elements in the process of Land use / land cover
changes in Addalaichenai DS Division.
It has grown up to be urban town in the south east
region with it slim of its municipality.
