The Hindu Business Line : Kerala unveils draft land policy

Conversion of lands will be strictly controlled and the State will be divided into various land zones for formulating suitable land utilisation methods.

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 4 The Kerala Government has come out with a draft land policy, which, among other things, aims at protecting the government land and utilising it for productive purposes and plugging the loopholes in lease agreements.

The draft policy, which was released by the Revenue Minister, Mr K.P. Rajendran, here on Friday, also targets at realising the dream of providing a piece of land and a small house to all the families, thereby converting Kerala into a State devoid of the homeless.

The Government will formulate a ‘wetland information system’ and a ‘wetland management system’ to protect and productively use the rivers, lakes and other water resources in the State. These water resources will also be made free of pollution.

A ‘Land and Disaster Management Institute’ will be established to create awareness about sustainable utilisation of land. The activities of the institute will be strengthened with the assistance of the Centre for Earth Sciences Studies (CESS).

Conversion of lands will be strictly controlled and the State will be divided into various land zones for formulating suitable land utilisation methods.

A State-level committee will be constituted to coordinate the activities of various technical and research institutions working in the area of land use and to recommend changes in land use in accordance with the changing times.

Paddy fields

Paddy fields in the State will be declared as ‘paddy producing regions’ and conversion of the fields for other purposes will be totally banned. And, permission will not be granted for reclamation or conversion of the paddy fields coming under various irrigation projects.

In future, government lands will be allocated for industrial and other purposes only subject to strict conditions to ensure that the ownership of the lands vested with the Government.

The fair value of lands in different regions of the State will reviewed from time to time through scientific means.

The draft policy also states that the Government will initiate measures, including legislation, to strictly control acquisition of land through illegal means.

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