Kerala to amend act to protect paddy lands

Kochi: Pursuant to a directive of Kerala High Court, the state is making the illegal conversion of paddy lands or wetland a non-bailable offence. It will amend the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 (28 of 2008). Sources said the land not included in the data bank and marked as Nilam in other revenue documents would be considered paddy land and there would be guidelines for its utilisation. The amendment is planned with the paddy farmers in mind.

The draft 'Paddy Land & Wet Land Amendment Act 2017' also recommends setting up a 'Paddy Cultivators Relief Fund'. The move according to sources is considered as an "aid and boost" for farmers. The state had brought in an amendment in December 2016, which came in for HC criticism. They said local level monitoring committees would get powers to examine applications for conversions instead of district collectors. If the committee clears an application, tahsildar will reconsider the same. Revenue officials can take action and subsequently refer the matter to police.