THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The revenue department has started works to bring back the illegally converted land to its primeval form. According to the reform, buildings or any other constructions that came after the 2008 conservation of paddy lands and wetlands ACT will be demolished to bring back the converted land to its original shape.

The revenue secretariat meeting yesterday discussed the complexity associated with bringing down such constructions and assigned the land revenue commissioner to prepare a report on the issue at the earliest.

If the reform is conducted in all commitment, many buildings including resorts and party offices will face the threat of demolition. The department wants the building owners to initiate actions and solicit demolition works to bring back the land to its original shape. Notice regarding the demolition of such buildings will be sent to the owners respectively. If the owners resent such a move, the authorities will carry out the demolition and will use the government funds to reestablish the land in its original form. The funds used will be taken later from the owner. The sand and other construction paraphernalia that comes in excess after the land conversion will be used for the impending construction works of national highways.

Right after the 2008 Conservation of paddy lands and wetlands ACT, many such buildings popped up in places across Kerala, but the authorities refrained from any legal actions. The constructions were allowed a free run as the government found itself in a tangle after many party offices were also constructed along with the illegally built ones.

According to the 2008 ACT, only 10 cents of land can be converted inside a grama panchayath while it comes to 5 cents inside a corporation. The revenue department needs to approve any such conversions. However, many real estate players misused the rule and created many lucrative businesses, building resorts all over the place. However, the government fears backlash and huge protests if the demolition process gets real since the owners are not just any ordinaries but people having strong clout in politics.