Kozhikode (Keralam) | Keralam will amend existing land utilisation laws and restrictions to facilitate land availability for industrial and tourism development, Minister A P Anilkumar said here on Saturday.
The government has decided to bring in necessary amendments to existing land ceilings and restrictions to make land available for sectors crucial to the state's overall development, he said.
The growth of these sectors was essential to create employment opportunities for the younger generation within the state, the Revenue minister said while inaugurating a district patta distribution fair here.
The Revenue department would expedite steps to remove outdated legal hurdles and make land available for industrial and tourism purposes, he said.
As part of the government's 100-day action programme, more than 1,350 pattas (land deeds) have been distributed in Kozhikode district alone, the minister said.
The government had initially set a target of distributing 5,000 pattas across the state, but more than 6,000 have already been distributed, he said.
With the patta distribution programmes in Palakkad and Idukki districts yet to be completed, more than 10,000 pattas would be distributed across the state within 100 days, Anilkumar said.
"Patta is not the government's charity but the right of the people," he said.
Land titles are essential for obtaining bank loans, meeting children's educational needs and transferring property, the minister said.
He appreciated the Kozhikode district collector and Revenue officials for preparing more pattas for distribution than the target.
A special committee has been tasked with reforming Revenue laws that are 50 to 60 years old to make them more people-friendly, Anilkumar said.
The government aims to fully digitise Revenue services so that people need not repeatedly visit village offices and can access services through dedicated service centres or over the phone, he said.
Digital surveys would be completed to provide a permanent solution to land disputes, he added.
Revenue officials should treat people visiting their offices with courtesy and responsibility, Anilkumar said, warning that strict action would be taken against officials who unnecessarily delay public services.