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Information on landuse/landcover change is a critical input for natural resource management policy decisions. Remote sensing data under GIS domain were utilized to evaluate the changes in land-use/land-cover (LU/LC) spanning a period of thirty three years during 1975 to 2008 along the Dhansiri River channel, Assam, India. Seven different types of LU/LC were categorized and out of them cropland was evident as the most important landuse/landcover practices followed by dense mixed jungle in 1975 and the settlement in 2008. Significant reduction (13.02%) in cropland area to settlement was observed. Moreover, teagarden also occupies 0.77% of the total area from cropland and open mixed jungle. The changes in the areas of swampy land as evident from the present study in turn will impact the environmental quality around it and will help to increase the surface run off leading to enhancement of erosion processes. It is believed that the present study will help to contribute towards sustainable land-use planning and management towards protection of extremely rich biodiversity of the North East India with mighty Brahmaputra River system.

Starting from the past or medieval period to the present day situation, history clearly indicates that the development of a region was and even today is function of a good transportation network. In the present day, society demands for an efficient and unobstructed road network after experiencing major issues or problems like traffic congestion, delay, pollution, increased vehicle operating cost and road accidents. Keeping in mind the above needs and constraints to traffic movement, an analysis of a digitized road network of the concerned city/town can be one of the best remedy to solve the problems. Such analysis is best suited in ArcGIS, Geographic Information System (GIS) software for creating, analyzing and compiling maps for obtaining information. In the present study an effort was made to prepare a road network map of Guwahati city and to find the shortest route between two places by proper analysis and digitization of its existing road network system in order to solve the traffic related problems to great extent. Network Analyst is a special analysis tool in ArcGIS which not only scrutinize the closest facility available in network of digitized interconnected lines but also facilitates in optimizing route during floods and emergency responses. One of the best models that can be generated through Network Analysis is the shortest route between required origin and destination points. The analysis is done based on input of certain network attributes like traversing distance, time and cost of travel, barriers, vehicle restrictions etc. All the important roads connecting each other within the Guwahati City were digitized in the GIS environment and proceeded further to serve the purpose.

There is always a close and very complex linkage between rural and urban areas. However, failure to properly harness the linkages between rural and urban sectors does not help either rural or urban. To counter this and to ensure development of rural economy, strengthening the linkage between rural and urban areas is important. Studies have identified that promotion and enhancement of food-processing industries is a major key to strengthen ruralurban linkages for development of rural economy. In this article, an attempt has been made to examine the means to increase the strength of rural-urban linkages by promoting agriculture-industry interface for development of rural economy in Assam, a state of the North East India. A social accounting matrix analysis has been carried out to examine the impact of a food processing industry on a neighbouring village of the food processing industry for proper/fruitful 184 Ira Das, Mrinal Kanti Dutta and Saundarjya Borbora rural-urban linkages in the state. The positive economic impact of the industry on the village confirms the enormity of impact a food processing industry can have on the neigbouring villages. The article concludes by advocating for setting up of more food processing industries in Assam for reducing rural-urban divide and ensuring development of rural economy.