Govt committed to implement free land distribution

Chennai, Aug 11: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi asserted in the state Assembly today that the Government would implement its promise of free distribution of wasteland to landless farmers unmindful of the Opposition's criticisms.

Replying to a point of order raised by Mr C Govindasamy (CPI-M), he said the scheme would be implemented in three methods. Firstly, reclamation of wasteland owned by the Government and distribution to landless farmers two acres each.

Secondly, those who had encroached the Government land would be approached and the land received from them would be made cultivable and be given back to them.

Finally, the patta lands owned by individuals would be reclaimed with their consent and be handed over to them.

Mr Karuananidhi said the Government was striving to implement the scheme in order to increase the agricultural produce and the per capita income of poor farmers, besides generating employment opportunities.

''The question whether 50 acres or 60 acres of land are available in the state is immaterial. The Government has a tendency to give and poor farmers are in a position to benefit,'' he said.

He also urged the Opposition AIADMK to give suggestions to implement the scheme instead of announcing protests against it.

Mr Karunanidhi said the previous AIADMK Government had given a statistics in its budget for the year 2001-2002 that 50 lakh acres of wasteland was available in the state. Based on that, the DMK promised in its election manifesto that two acres of wasteland would be distributed free to landless farmers if the party formed the Government.

He said the Marumalarchi DMK, an ally of the AIADMK, had also made a similar promise in its election manifesto.

When Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa questioned in the House the feasibility of the scheme due to non-availability of adequate land, he had replied that even if only a land of palm size was available, it would be distributed to the poor, the Chief Minister recalled.

Stating that it was the DMK Government which lowered the land ceiling limit from 30 standard acre to 15 standard acre and distributed lakhs of acres to the poor, he said the Government was functioning with such a progressive thinking.

Earlier, referring to Ms Jayalaithaa's charge that small and marginal farmers were apprehensive that the Government would confiscate their land, Mr Govindasamy urged the Government to clear the doubts.

CPI floor leader V Sivapunniyam and PMK floor leader G K Mani wanted to know the AIADMK's stand on the land scheme. Whether the AIADMK was supporting or opposing the distribution of land to the poor, they asked.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam said the AIADMK had no objection to distributing land to landless farmers.

UNI