(a) whether the Government is aware of large scale use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes;
(b) if so, the details and the corrective action taken thereon;
(c) the details of paddy fields converted into non-agricultural purposes in the country including Karnataka, State-wise; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government to deal with the ecological problem as a result of such conversion?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (d): As per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Land falls under
the purview of the State Governments and, therefore, it is for the State Governments to
bring suitable legislation to protect use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.
There is no specific information available regarding conversion of paddy field into non-
agricultural purposes. However, as per available estimate, there is marginal decline in the
availability of agricultural land from 183.07 million ha. in 2003-04 to 182.71 million ha.
in 2006-07. During the same period, land under non-agricultural purposes has increased from
24.68 million ha. to 25.19 million ha. In the State of Karnataka also there is marginal
decline in the availability of agricultural land from 12.91 million ha. of 2003-04 to
12.89 million ha. in 2006-07 and area under non-agricultural uses has increased from 1.33
million ha in 2003-04 to 1.36 million ha in 2006-07. The State-wise details of agricultural
land and area under non-agricultural uses across the country including that of Karnataka
State is annexed. This decline in agricultural land is mainly due to increase in population
and diversion of agricultural land for non agricultural purposes such as urbanization, roads,
industries etc.
Government of India is implementing various Watershed Development Programmes
for development of degraded lands in the country. Under these programmes, upto end
of X Five Year Plan about 50.83 million ha. of lands have been developed and parts of
such developed lands are also brought under cultivation keeping into consideration
the prevailing agro-climatic condition of the area.