Halt conversion of farm lands into plots: MLAs

CHENNAI:  Several MLAs on Tuesday urged the State government to take immediate steps to halt conversion of fertile agricultural lands into residential layouts.Speaking on the demand for a special grant for agriculture, P V Kathiravan (Forward Bloc) said farm lands across the State were being converted into residential plots by real estate agents. The government should take steps to declare arable lands as ‘Green zone’, and bar realtors from converting such lands for residential use. DMDK member R Arulselvan (Mayiladuthurai) also appealed to the government to take stern measures to stop the trend. Dr K Krishnasamy of Puthiya Tamizhagam said huge tracts of agricultural lands were held by people from cities who had nothing to do with farming. “The government should take over land if it was not put for proper farm use for three years,” he said.