THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Paddy Land and Wetland Conservation (Amendment) Act is a legislation meant for the state’s common good, Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan has said.
In a statement here, the minister said the Act will usher in meaningful changes in food production, agriculture development, farmers’ welfare, housing, environment and water conservation sectors.
According to him, Land acquisition for infrastructure development projects is a challenge faced by the state. The state should avoid a situation in which it loses out on mega projects like the GAIL pipe laying for want of land. Hence, the amendment has included “projects” under the provision for conversion of paddy field for public purpose.
This is a timely addition which upholds the state’s development aspirations. At the same time, the government wants to increase paddy production to three lakh hectares of land. There were 1.96 lakh ha of paddy cultivation in 2015-16 which increased to 2.2 lakh ha in 2017-18. Section 16 of the original Act was amended to ensure the Kudumbashree or local self-governments can start cultivation in fallow paddy fields even without the permission of the owner.
In this too, the owner will not lose ownership of the land and is eligible to get 25 per cent of the profit. Paddy land reclamation has been made a cognisable offence and the penalty was increased from two years to three years.
Lands which were reclaimed before 2018 and recorded as paddy field (nilam) in Revenue records can be regularised and used for other purposes subject to conditions. Those who do not own other land in their name can construct residence on such land. If the land is more than 10 cents, specific conditions have been laid for regularisation. If the land is above 50 cents, 10 per cent should be set apart for water conservation.
Regularisation of paddy land reclamation can be regularised only if it does not disturb water flow and do not affect the paddy fields nearby. There is also provision for an agriculture welfare fund in the Act, it said.