INDIA GROWING, ANDHRA PRADESH IS SHRINKING

By Seema Ghatkar / Hyderabad

India’s land area hasn’t remained constant, except in its geography texts. Its topography has altered with new land mass constantly being created by filling up the seas or being reduced by soil erosion that has over time eaten up the weak coast. 
    
The last four national land-area censuses show the size of several states has changed. Maharashtra, for one, has been the largest gainer. The aggressive reclaiming exercises have contributed to an increase in the state’s mass by 23 sq km. 

    
On the other hand, with the washing away of the coastline, Andhra Pradesh has lost as much land as Maharashtra added. RTI activist Manoranjan Roy, who sought information on land-area censuses from Survey of India, found that from 1991 to 2001, India’s total area changed from 32,87,263 sq km to 32,87,252 sqkm. In the most recent survey result of 2011, India’s total area stands at 32,87,261.71 sq km. ‘Erosion is serious in AP, TN & on west coast’ 
    
In all, 13 states and union territories have recorded a change in size that is a result of several factors, barring splitting up of large states or drawing of new geo-political boundaries. 
    
Surveyor-General of India Swarna Subba Rao attributed the change in size to the fact that the areas of coastal states change due to coastal erosion and reclamation. 
    
“Yet, reclamation of land is not so large that it runs into tens of sq km. But erosion is serious in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and on the west coast as well. But we do not have exact figures,” he added. 
    
The 2011 census also made amends to the tiny aberrations that were noticed during the ensuing surveys. 
    
“There are some variations in areas of states reported by some agencies including the survey of India, state governments etc. 
    
“Sometimes even the method of calculation of areas also makes this happen,” said Subba Rao. 
    
Earlier, areas on a map were calculated by the graph method and by employing a planimeter, a mechanical device that had some inherent limitations. Now, all our maps have been digitised. “We compute areas using software which is very accurate. Further, SoI maps are accurate and authentic. The area reported by SoI stands.” So, a slight change in the area of a land-locked state like Delhi is a calculation that had earlier gone wrong. 
    
P K Das, who has mapped the city of Mumbai said that there is a difference in the area of Mumbai as calculated by him and by the city’s civic body. “Wetlands, edges of creeks, mangroves and river beds are often mapped vaguely. Illegal land filling has also contributed to increasing of area,” he added.