THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government on Thursday drew flak for its decision to exempt plantations from the provisions of the Kerala Forest (Vesting and management of ecologically fragile lands) Act, or the EFL Act.
The government had announced a slew of measures, such as abolishing plantation tax and freezing agricultural income tax, among others to support the crisis-ridden plantation sector. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly on Thursday said the decisions were taken keeping in mind the contributions made by the sector in Kerala’s socio-economic sectors.
However, concerns were raised the exemption move could lead to a loss of forest land. Senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran came down heavily on the government, alleging the government surrendered before the plantation managements. The Western Ghats Protection Council, too, criticised the move saying it will approach the Supreme Court against it.
CMO’s statement
Later, the Chief Minister’s Office come out with a statement plantations were already exempted from the Kerala Forest (Ecologically forest land) Act. As per Section 2(C) of the Act, “land used principally for the cultivation of crops of long duration such as tea, coffee, rubber, pepper, cardamom, coconut, arecanut or cashew” does not come under the definition of EFL.
Complaints
There were complaints the Forests Department used to take over the plantations or interfere with their functioning by misinterpreting the Act. The Krishnan Nair Commission had looked into the issue and recommended the government to ensure plantations got full protection of the law.
“The Forests Department has been taking over plantations using the EFL Act. However, no such actions are being taken in other states. Before implementing the Act, there was no harmful effect on the environment due to the plantations. Hence, the practice of taking over plantations should end,” the commission said.
The Cabinet took no new decision to exempt estates from the Act, the CMO said. Forests Minister K Raju told Express estates had always been exempted from the Act. “This has already been in effect. No new decision was taken,” he said.
Decisions
To fully abolish the plantation tax
To freeze agricultural income tax from plantation sector
Asks local bodies to exempt plantation workers’ accommodation (layams) from
building tax
Construct houses for workers under LIFE Mission, the cost of which should be equally borne by the government and plantation managements. Estate owners should give the land for free
Seigniorage on rubber timber exempted
Labour Department to consider making ESI scheme applicable for plantation workers
Delay in revising lease agreement to be avoided
To bring in a legislation for taking over or running abandoned or non-operational plantations
Labour Department to take steps to revise employees’ wages