Public and institutional perception on environmental issues of urban land-use planning in eastern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Urban land-use planning aims to prepare sustainable development to create a better future. The limited number of research papers has been focused on public perceptions of factors of environmental impact for urban land-use planning. This study aims to analyze the public perceptions of environmental impact and expectation of sustainability that emerge due to improper land-use practices. The 220 respondents inclusive of urban dwellers (185 private and self-employees) and 35 government officials were selected for the sample using a random sampling method. The primary data of the study were collected by using a set of checklist questionnaires involving structural surveys. Both descriptive statistics and inferential analysis techniques were used for data analysis. The study indicates that 80.5% of urban dwellers and 19.5% of government officials of respondents were perceived the severity and its consequence on the factors of environmental impact and expectation of sustainability for sustainable land-use planning. Based on the statements of respondents, the government officials are agreed with the statement of sub-factors of urban expanse, urban greenery, wetland filling, water pollution and overall environmental impact in environment impact factor. But, private and self-employees disagree with the above statements of environmental impact factors. In the factor of expectation of sustainability, the government employees are agreed with the statement of the sub-factors of environmental condition, planning and implementation toward Batticaloa Municipal Council, organizational commitments, sustainable development and overall expectation of sustainability. But private and self-employees disagreed with the above statements of expectation of sustainability factor in Batticaloa Municipal Council.