The Hindu Business Line : TN to draft sustainable land, water use policy

CONSIDERING the urgent need for land-use planning to prevent further degradation of this invaluable resource, the State Planning Commission is in the process of developing an action plan for sustainable land and water resource-use and management.

A two-day workshop was inaugurated here on Monday by Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission and Chairman of the State Land Use Board.

Briefing press persons, Dr Swaminathan said that the State was in the process of formulating a policy for land-use. A task force has been set up under the Chairmanship of Dr R.K. Sivanappan, renowned water technologist. The draft material is to be submitted to the Government within the next two to three months, based on which a (implementable) policy would be formulated, he said.

At least 15 million farming families should cooperate to implement this plan and for this, some degree of lateral learning would be necessary, he added.

Dr Swaminathan pointed out that despite being endowed with vast potential of natural resources, poor management and free riding behaviour, lack of adequate attention towards optimal use and conservation posed a serious threat for sustainability of the resource.

An analysis of the changes in the land use pattern from 1961-62 to 2000-01 showed that about 150 million hectares had been affected over the years. The Member Secretary of the State Planning Commission, Mr Naresh Gupta, said that the extent of cultivable lands had remained stagnant over the last several years, which was a matter of concern. Due to urbanisation and population growth, there would be a growing demand for conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses in the coming years. It was therefore important to develop a long-term perspective plan on the type of land to be allocated for urbanisation and industrialisation in various regions. Proper land use planning would reduce the extent of conversion of prime agricultural lands, he said.

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