Amendment to Kerala Land Reforms Act put the Govt in a fix

The State Government and the Land Board is in a fix over the practical implementation of the Amendment brought to the Kerala land Reforms Act, which gave exemption to cashew estates. Though the amendment was brought two years ago, the Land Board officials are in a quandary as the amendment, which they say have no clear guidelines and is incomplete.

Even though the amendment was brought in 2012, the Land Board has been continuously raising doubts over the implementation and the negative impact it would have on the land reforms. The confusion is very evident from the latest direction sent last month to the Land Board secretary that the amendment should only be followed. 

In the 2012 amendment, no specific cut of date for the plantations has been said, which has added to the confusion.  As per the amendment, any land having not less than 150 cashew trees per hectare before and after the amendment was brought in can be given exemption. The land board has been demanding the government to come out with specific guidelines as the present amendment brought in could hamper the good intentions of retrieving surplus land, which could be used for public purposes. 

Source: The New Indian Express

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