Pawar sings praise for VS

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today received full praise from Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for his fight against conversion of agricultural land for other purposes.

''Yesterday, I met the Kerala Chief Minister. The state government is putting a lot of efforts in stopping conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes,'' Mr Pawar said in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Achuthanandan, who had been waging a struggle for several years against using agricultural land for other purposes, had met Mr Pawar here yesterday.

The Kerala Chief Minister urged Mr Pawar to include two more district of his state for extending benefits under a central package of distressed farmers.

Mr Achuthanandan has met the Agriculture Minister twice this month since he became Chief Minister in May.

UNI FZ VD ND1320