Analyzing land use land cover (LULC) changes induced by the run-of river project and respondent survey: a case of Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project on Indus River, Pakistan

• DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad2bb5
• Publication Date: 2024-02-21T22:32:56Z
• Authors: Ehsan Inam Ullah; Shakil Ahmad; Muhammad Fahim Kh...; Umer Khayyam; Muhammad Azmat; Muhammad Arshad; Faizan ur Rehman ...
• Keywords: Indus; Land Cover

Abstract Land use land cover (LULC) change determination caused by development projects is always mandatory as the major source of local livelihoods and regional economy. Worldwide, very limited studies have been conducted to determine LULC changes run-of-the-river projects, which are generally considered safe due their design. Present study used Google Earth Engine (GEE) examine Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP), a project, built in 2002 on Indus River Pakistan. The project diverts river water from barrage, for 6,600 GWh annual power production, through an open concrete channel 100 m width 9 depth. Field surveys were carried out assess respondents’ opinions about causes. was 1990–2020 processing Landsat images GEE, Random Forest (RF) machine learning technique supervised classification area. 384 respondents consulted during field survey responses collected using semi-structured self-administered proformas. Results showed that after functioning, GBHP downstream areas 2002–2010, there significant decrease area under agriculture 29.10% 47%, summer winter seasons respectively. trend concurrent with also followed marked increase vegetation baresoil. However, 2010–2020, again increased 75.61% 84.53% respectively, compared 2002–2010. Respondents revealed reduction 2002–2010 scarcity GBHP; leading baresoil increase. Recovery 2010–2020 attributed groundwater intervention, better seeds, farmers’ capacity building.