Kerala Bars Conversion Of Paddy Fields To Alternative Use

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 13 (KNN) The Kerala government has announced a firm commitment to protect and preserve all existing paddy lands throughout the state, prohibiting their conversion for alternative purposes. 

This declaration was made by Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad during a question-and-answer session in the state assembly on Wednesday.

In response to an inquiry regarding the government's intentions toward existing paddy fields, Minister Prasad emphasised the critical importance of preserving these agricultural lands from dual perspectives: ensuring food security and facilitating groundwater recharge. 

The minister highlighted the significant environmental contribution of paddy cultivation, noting that a single acre of paddy land collects approximately five crore liters of water underground annually, making these lands valuable water resource assets.

Drawing a parallel between environmental conservation efforts, Prasad expressed the view that "there should be paddy reserves" similar to forest reserves. 

However, he acknowledged the practical challenges of such designations, stating, "We cannot tell a farmer that his agricultural land is being declared a reserve paddy field."

The minister referenced the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act of 2008 as a legislative framework established to preserve and protect the state's paddy fields and water bodies. 

This existing legislation provides the foundation for the government's current protective stance.

Reinforcing the government's position, Prasad emphatically stated that authorities have "no intention of permitting conversion of even an inch of paddy fields for other purposes," concluding that the government "intends to protect and preserve the paddy lands in the state at any cost."

(KNN Bureau)