The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Cultivable land decreasing in Union Territory every year

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Saturday, Jul 09, 2005

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Other States - Pondicherry

Cultivable land decreasing in Union Territory every year

By Rajesh Nair

Agricultural production drops to 70,000 tonnes from 90,000 tonnes

VANISHING FIELDS: A new building that has come up on a paddy field. — Photo:T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY: A vast area of lush green paddy fields and cultivable land has vanished in Pondicherry during the last three decades.

Statistics available with government shows that on an average every year the territory loses some 200 hectors of cultivable land.

Indiscriminate conversion of cultivable land for constructing residential complexes, setting up industries and for other purposes has reduced the quantum of agricultural production to 70,000 tonnes from 90,000 tonnes during last three decades.

Fall in NDP

Currently in Pondicherry region only 17,000 hectors is available for paddy cultivation.

This has resulted in gradual reduction of the contribution of agricultural sector towards the total Net Domestic Product.

Over the last few years the contribution of agricultural sector has come down to 4 percent from 10 percent.

The rural pockets like rice-rich Bahour, Mannadipet, Villianur, Neettapakkam is loosing the agrarian look.

A visit to these pockets and rural areas could give first hand information to the enormity in which the encroachment is being carried out.

Even when this report is being filed fresh filling of a paddy field, for constructing residential complexes, is going on in Thavalakuppam, on the sides of Cuddalore Road.

Amend Revenue Act

The Town and Country Planning says they could stop such construction in paddy fields only if an amendment to section 22 of the Revenue Act is done.

Officials in the Department say that the Act should be amended so as to make registration possible only if a land use certificate is obtained from local authority.

They say many States have amended this act.

It is learnt that the Pondicherry Government, two years ago, considered an amendment, but the cabinet differed the decision for reasons best known to them.

However, the Agriculture department puts a brave front. They say it is not an isolated trend and the national picture is no different.

"Even after the territory has lost a good part of the cultivable land we are self-sufficient", says a senior official in the Agriculture Department.

But how long the territory can be self-sufficient?

There is no clear answer to this from the department's side.

They also feel that non-availability of water for cultivation has prompted many farmers to sell their land.

"The government needs to assess the situation of poor farmers after they have lost their cultivable land,'' CPI (M) leader Murugan said.

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