Fresh row over paddy conversion
The proposal was put on hold and later withdrawn following protests from many quarters.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-12-29 05:44 GMT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF government’s claim that there was no move to amend the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008 to allow reclamation of paddy fields up to 10 acres has been exposed with a cabinet note in September suggesting such changes.
The cabinet considered bringing an ordinance allegedly to help private parties to reclaim paddy land. The cabinet had suggested that paddy fields could be reclaimed with necessary permission for government projects.
However, there was a direction from above to include non-government projects as well. It is being attributed to the chief minister himself.
However, it was pointed out that the revenue department was only authorised to take decision on paddy land and the decisions on wetlands had to be subjected to the environment ministry’s scrutiny and permission.
The proposal was then put on hold and later withdrawn following protests from environmentalists, Opposition and leaders of the ruling party.
Reacting to the reports, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that the move was abandoned following opposition from various quarters. Regarding discussions in the cabinet, he said there was nothing new as such matters are routinely discussed.
It may be recalled that the reclamation clause, which had been inserted in the Kerala Finance Bill, 2015, stated that paddy fields and wetlands reclaimed before 2008 can be regularised after securing 25 per cent of the fair value of the land from owners. It was tabled in the Assembly on July 27, 2015.
The Bill presented by former finance minister K.M. Mani was passed without voting since the Opposition members staged a walkout even before it was tabled.
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