Karunanidhi to launch land distribution on Sept 17

Chennai, Aug 19 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will launch distribution of two acres of land each to landless farmers, one of the major poll promises of the DMK, in Thiruvallur on September 17, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dravidian stalwart 'Periyar' E V Ramasamy.

Making a suo motu statement in the State Assembly today, Revenue Minister I Periyasamy said he led a team of officials to West Bengal from August ten to 12 to study the implementation of land distribution scheme there.

After a detailed meeting with the West Bengal Land and Land Reforms Minister, the team visited various areas in West Midnapore district for a field study of land distribution.

Based on the study, the team had made some recommendations which include prohibition of sale or transfer of land for 30 years as the Government had to spend considerable amount for reclaiming the land before distribution.

Mr Periyasamy said the land scheme covered Government wasteland, encroached government land and private patta lands owned by small and marginal farmers.

Stating that the Government would have to spend considerable amount for the development of wasteland, he said the scheme would be implemented with funds allocated under the State's Integrated Wasteland Development Scheme and from Central schemes.

More UNI AKN JJ MQA ND1746