STUDY AREA

Figure 1: Study area considered for the analysis

Shimoga district is located at 13 43’N 75 15’ E and  14 08’N and 75 44’E in the central part of the state of Karnataka, India. It lies on the banks of the Tunga River. The climate is tropical wet and dry and temperature ranges between  37oC (Max) to 23.2o C (Min). The district receives an average rainfall of 1813 mm. Shimoga encompasses an area of 8477 sq. km. Shimoga district is divided into 2 Sub-divisions and 7 Taluks. The Sagar Sub-division comprises the taluks of Sagar, Shikaripura, Sorab and Hosanagara while the Shimoga Sub-division comprises the taluks of Shimoga, Bhadravathi and Thirthahalli. District Headquarters of Shimoga is located in Shimoga. Shimoga district has a population of 16.43 lakh (as per 2001 Census), with population density of 194 per sq. km. Agriculture and animal husbandry are the major contributors to the economy of Shimoga district. The Shimoga city having a radius of 7km is considered for the analysis and a buffer of 5 km is considered in order to account for peri-urban growth and to visualise likely urbanising regions during the next decade.