No attempt to reclaim paddy fields: CM
Posted on: 27 Oct 2012
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today made it clear that the government would not bring any law to reclaim paddy fields and said instead government was planning to bring in a legislation to conserveand protect paddy fields.
Government would not support any move that led to the destruction of paddy fields, Chandy told reporters when asked
about the report on the draft of the amendemnt to Kerala Land use Bill, being circulated among the various departments by
Law Department to get thier opinion.
'It is only the recommendations of the commitee set up to study the need for reforms in existing laws which has come out
now. The government has not given any approval for the same', Chandy said.
With a view to conserve and protect paddy fields, government plans to bring in a new legislation that restricts sale and transfer of paddy land only to farmers, Chandy added.
The Draft of Land Bill has a provision to facilitate the reclmation of 'single crop' paddy lands, fallow lands and
water bodies.
Social activist pointed out Amendments if becomes a law would ran contrary to the proviions in the Kerala Conservation
of Paddyland and Westland Act, 2008.
The new provisions would lead to largescale conversion of paddy fields for non agriculture purposes in the state where
the area of paddy fields had come dowan drastically in the recent years. PTI
