UDF moots changes in Paddy Conservation and Land Reforms Act

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress-led ruling UDF in the state Thursday suggested certain amendments be made to two state acts so as to facilitate speedy assignment of vacant government land to the poor and also make use of unused agriculture land for industrial purposes.

The state Revenue Minister had been asked to come out with a draft for the amendments to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act and Land Reforms Act, UDF Convenor P P Thanckachan told reporters here after a liaison committee meeting.

Speedy assigning of government vacant land to poor and also making use of unused agriculture land for industrial purposes were some of the objectives of amendments in the Land Reforms Act.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) wanted government to speed up the process of giving title deeds to deserving poor sections in the society, he said.

The meet also asked the government to rectify the anomalies in the revised Fair Value for land as there were several complaints from different quarters, Thanckachan said.

Major complaints were from Ernakulam and Malappuram districts, he said.

"In some cases, the fair value fixed is more than the market value," he said adding it had been fixed without actual physical verification.

UDF wanted the government to clear all pending arrears of welfare pensions and also pay the amounts due to government contractors for the work they had already carried out.

Similarly, it also wanted the government to find solution to the crisis in traditional industrial sectors such as coir and cashew.

Thanckachan said immediate government intervention was needed to resolve the financial crisis faced by rubber growers due to fall in prices of natural rubber in domestic market.