Snapping a firm lid on the debate over allowing single private ownership for over 15 acres of industrial land holding in Kerala, chief minister VS Achuthanandan has clarified that his government was not game for diluting land reforms.
?If there is at least one communist left in Kerala government, the state will go ahead with land reforms,? he said. It was India?s first communist state government under late EMS Nampoothipad, who passed the Land Reform legislation.
The principal secretary (industry) of Kerala government had earlier proposed that the land ceiling of 15 acre for individuals (operative under the Kerala Land Reforms Act) should be eased since several industrial ventures would need land more than that. At present, industrialists in the state circumvent this legislation by buying 15-acre chunks under multiple owners.
An SEZ would need at least 25 acre of land holding. There was the situation of Kerala losing the radar of big industrialists with land-intensive projects. Since the state?s land reforms had served their purpose and since new challenges demanded new solutions, it would be useful if the land ceiling were eased, he had pointed out. The official had made this suggestion in a presentation to Kerala chief secretary, when the political bosses hastened to draw the line.
That land reform legislation is under rethinking was baseless speculation, chief minister said, in reply to questions by mediapersons. CPI state secretary Veliam Bhargavan also was unequivocal on the stand that land ceiling cannot be eased.