The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Tax to check reclamation of farmlands in urban areas: Isaac

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Tax to check reclamation of farmlands in urban areas: Isaac

Special Correspondent

Government to introduce new tax: Isaac Kerala Environment Congress begins

ON ENVIRONMENT: Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has a word with Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran at the inauguration of the Kerala Environment Congress in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. - Photo: C. Ratheesh kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac said here on Tuesday that the Government was planning to introduce a capital gains tax to check the reclamation and diversion of marginal farmlands in urban areas.

Inaugurating the Kerala Environment Congress 2007 organised by the Centre for Environment and Development (CED), he said the new tax would be levied from builders and industries seeking to reclaim the few remaining farmlands in urban areas. He said the revenue from the proposed tax would be used to preserve and protect the threatened wetlands in the State.

Critical point

Mr. Isaac said the shrinking of wetlands in Kerala had reached a critical point, affecting their resource potential and ecosystem functions. He stressed the need for proper vigil to prevent the reclamation of lakes and backwaters by tourist resorts. "The Pampa Action Plan and the Bharathapuzha Rejuvenation Project will be taken up soon. Local self-Governments can play a key role in this effort by mobilising the masses," he said.

Mr. Isaac also highlighted the need to revive traditional eco-friendly farming practices. Traditional agriculture was crucial to the preservation of wetlands, he said. The Minister said the Government was drawing up an action plan to promote organic paddy farming using traditional rice varieties and farming methods that placed less strain on the environment.

Mr. Isaac also underlined the importance of developing sustainable tourism as a major input for the State's growth.

Presiding over the function, Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran said the State Government was working on a legislation to check the reclamation of wetlands. "The relentless assault on nature has left many parts of the State reeling under acute water scarcity. Groundwater levels are plunging and riverbeds are drying up. Unseasonal rains and searing summer heat indicate the seriousness of the threat to natural resources," he said.

Mr. Premachandran called for inculcating a scientific temper in the younger generation and creating awareness about the environment.

Kerala Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor K.R. Viswambharan; Executive Vice-President of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment E.P. Yasodharan; president of the Kerala State Cooperative Bank Kadakampally Surendran; and executive director of CED Babu Ambat were present.

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