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Chapter 2Policy, Legislation and RegulationDefine and detail the functions of the State Biodiversity Board including documentation,studies, research, programming and state biodiversity fundDefine the procedures for utilization of biological resources and their equitable sharing,establishment of heritage sites, and management committees at various levelsProvision for Biodiversity Management Committee at the Grama Sabha, Grama panchayat,Janpad Panchayat, Zilla Panchayat as well as Municipality and Corporation levels.Provide detailed procedure for operationalization of the Biodiversity Managementcommittees as well as Biodiversity Register database and utilization of Local BiodiversityFund2.3.2.9. The Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008The Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 is intended to conserve thepaddy land and wetlands and restrict their conversion or reclamation, with an aim to promotegrowth in the agriculture sector and sustain the ecological balance. The salient aspect of theAct is that it adequately empowers the Gram panchayat/Municipality/Corporation to protectthe alarmingly reclaimed/converted paddy land and wetlands.The Act envisages functioning of a Local Level Monitoring Committee in each grampanchayat/municipality/corporation with President or Chairperson/Mayor of Gram Panchayator the Municipality/Corporation, Agriculture Officer of the Krishibhavan in the GramPanchayat/Municipality/Corporation, Village Officers having jurisdiction in the area, and threerepresentatives of farmers nominated. The Chairperson of the Committee is thePresident/Chairperson/Mayor of Gram Panchayat/Municipality/ Corporation and the Conveneris the Agriculture Officer. The Committee examines the reason for keeping the paddy landfallow and to suggest remedial measures for cultivation in the land. They prepare a data bankwith details of the paddy land and wetland, for formulating detailed guidelines for protectionof paddy lands/wetlands, and collecting the details of paddy land reclaimed in contraventionof the provision of the Act. They also recommends to the State Level Committee or DistrictLevel Authorized Committee for the reclamation of paddy land for public purpose or forconstruction of residential building for the owner of the paddy land.The District Level Authorized Committee, with Revenue Divisional Officer, Principal AgricultureOfficer and three nominated paddy cultivators, is constituted for considering the applicationsfor reclamation of paddy land for the construction of residential building to the owner, and theState Level Committee, with Agriculture Production Commissioner, Commissioner of LandRevenue, and a Scientist in the field of paddy cultivation, is constituted for considering theapplications for filling up or reclamation of paddy land for public purpose. As per the Act, theLocal Level Monitoring Committee is responsible for ensuring that the conversion/reclamationshall not adversely affect the ecological condition or the cultivation in the adjoining paddyland, and that the application is genuine. The Act has clearly points out that no exemptionshall be granted by the Government for conversion or reclamation of paddy land for publicpurpose unless the Local Level Monitoring Committee has recommended the conversion orreclamation.
Environmental Assessment ReportKerala Local Government Strengthening ProjectIn addition to safeguarding the valuable paddy land and wetlands, the Local Level MonitoringCommittee is authorized by the Act to direct the holder of any paddy land which isuncultivated and left fallow to cultivate it by himself or through any other person of hischoice, with paddy or any other intermediary crops. If the holder of the paddy land grantspermission to cultivate the said paddy land, the Local Level Monitoring Committee mayexecute an agreement between the panchayat and the holder of paddy land entrusting thepaddy land to the Panchayat either to cultivate or to get it cultivated for a fixed period. It isthe duty of the Gram Panchayat/Municipality/ Corporation to entrust the right to cultivate byauction or otherwise to padasekhara samitis, Self Help Groups, Kudumbasree Units, or others.However, the Act does not permit the Local Authority to grant any license or permit forcarrying out any activity or construction in a paddy land or a wetland converted or reclaimedin contravention to the Act.2.3.2.10. Draft Public Health Act for Kerala 2009The act envisages a State/District Health Board as a supervisory authority for monitoring theimplementation of the Public Health Act at the State/District level respectively. It alsoenvisages constitution of State Public Health Committee and District Public Health Committee,chaired by the District Panchayat President and District Collector, with advisory functions.Every Grama Panchayat and City Corporation shall have a Health Officer. According to the act,the local authority shall manage health institutions transferred to it by the Government. TheGovernment may issue direction to the local authority on maters relating to health policy,planning for health facilities, standards to be maintained, mode of administration and it shallbe the duty of the local authority to carry them out.The Act makes the provision of drinking water and water for other domestic and no domesticpurposes as the obligation of local government. It also enables the local authority to levy anytax which may be necessary for providing water supply in such area. The responsibilities oflocal authority includes providing and maintaining sufficient and satisfactory system of publicdrains for the effectual draining of its local area and prohibition on letting out sullage orsewage into drain or streets, discharge of Injurious refuse into public drains and pollution ofwater courses. The act necessitates every local authority to provide and maintain sufficientnumber of sanitary conveniences for the use of the public in proper and convenient places. Itmakes mandatory for every local authority to carry out such measures pertaining to Nationaland State Health Programmes and maternity and child welfare as may be prescribed.The local authorities are also made responsible to take steps to eliminate places where insectsare breeding or likely to breed and to control or destroy insects, to prevent spread ofcontagious diseases. As per provision, no person shall establish or maintain a market or otherfood handling institutions or halt without a license from the local authority. There are alsoprovision for regulating fair or festival.2..3..3.. Prrogrrammess2.3.3.1. Food Security MissionDuring Eleventh Plan a major thrust was provided for the revival of the agrarian economy ofthe State through augmenting production of food crops as well as milk and egg production in74
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Chapter 2Policy, Legislation and Re
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Chapter 2 - Kerala Govt Logo

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