Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar has said that the Kerala government is prepared to amend rules, if required, to expedite land-use conversion and the distribution of title deeds.

Addressing the district-level review meeting of the Revenue department in Thrissur, the Minister said practical difficulties often come to light only after laws are implemented. “Such issues may require amendments to rules or the issuance of special government orders. Once the review meetings in all 14 districts are completed, the government will examine the practical suggestions and proposals for legal amendments put forward by officials and take appropriate decisions,” he said.

Mr. Kumar said the Revenue department handled the largest volume of public files and maintained the closest interface with the public. Revenue officials played a crucial role in almost every public issue, he noted, adding that people today were well aware of their rights and entitlements.

While it may not be possible to grant every request, officials should patiently listen to people visiting government offices, empathise with their concerns, and ensure that files are disposed of quickly and transparently, he said.

Priority sections

The Minister directed officials to accord priority to resolving the issues of vulnerable sections, including coastal communities, tribespeople, and residents of Scheduled Caste colonies.

As part of the State government’s 100-day action plan, the department aims to dispose of more than 25,000 applications for land-use conversion. The government is also examining measures to address the shortage of surveyors, he said.

The district has been assigned a target of distributing 200 title deeds under the 100-day programme. Revenue department special secretary K. Jeevan Babu urged officials to exceed the target, while District Collector Shikha Surendran expressed confidence that the district would distribute more pattayams than the stipulated number.

The Collector also said six smart village offices in the district were ready for inauguration under the 100-day programme.

Land acquisition

Mr. Surendran said land acquisition involving 157.15 hectares for 31 development projects was under way in the district and was expected to be completed by the end of 2026 or in the first quarter of 2027.

The Collector further informed the meeting that government financial assistance had been disbursed to the families of the 16 people who died in the Mundathikode fireworks accident. The assessment of damage caused to houses in the area was currently in progress.

The district-level review meetings are being held to accelerate the implementation of the Revenue department’s initiatives under the State government’s 100-day action plan. Mr. Babu said another review meeting would be convened after a month to assess the progress of the initiatives.