In a move that may kick up a fresh row, the industries department has sought an amendment to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008 to help new industrial units overcome acute paucity of land in cities.
The proposal, which was once shot down by the previous LDF government, got a fresh lease of life in the context of the upcoming investors’ conclave, Emerging Kerala.
Accordingly, the cabinet set up a committee headed by additional chief secretary (industries & commerce) V. Somasundaran to draft a proposal for the amendment.
According to sources, the first session of the committee in the capital on Wednesday was also attended by chief minister Oommen Chandy, industries minister P.K. Kunhalikutty and water resources minister P.J. Joseph.
The broad understanding was that an Ordinance be brought up ahead of the Emerging Kerala meet in September, considering the sensitivity of the subject.
“Exemption (from the stringent provisions of the Act barring reclamation of paddy and wet land) is sought only for the land in cities. But conversion of water bodies is a strict no-no,” a source in the industries department said.
The move got further momentum following demands raised in the recently-held regional meets of investors, organised by district industrial centres as a prelude to Emerging Kerala.
Other members of the Somasundaran panel are agriculture principal secretary K.R. Jyothilal, water resources department principal secretary V.J. Kurien, planning department principal secretary Subrata Biswas, local self-government principal secretary James Varghese and Kinfra managing director S. Ramnath.