The Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020
The Government of Tamil Nadu published the Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020, Act No. 11 of 2020, after it was enacted by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and received the Governor’s assent on 21 February 2020. The Act took effect at once and protects agricultural land in the Cauvery Delta by prohibiting specified new projects and activities within the protected agricultural zone, while supporting agricultural development.
What the Act governs
The Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020 applies to the protected agricultural zone identified in the First Schedule. It defines agricultural land as land used for agriculture, including cultivation, horticulture, apiculture, sericulture, forest produce and activities producing food, fodder, fibre, biofuel or raw materials for agro-industries.
The Government of Tamil Nadu must support sustainable agriculture and prevent agricultural activities from being unduly constrained by non-agricultural use or other development. Its responsibilities include promoting integrated farming, improved cultivation, efficient water use, flood management, agro-based industries, research and skills.
Restrictions affecting land and projects
The Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020 prohibits any person from starting a new project or activity listed in the Second Schedule within the protected agricultural zone.
Key qualifications are:
- Projects and activities already operating in the zone before the Act came into force are not affected by the prohibition.
- Infrastructure development is not affected. The listed examples include harbours, pipelines, roads, telecommunications, power, water supply and other utilities.
- The supplied text does not reproduce the First Schedule or Second Schedule, so it does not identify the covered locations or prohibited project categories.
A buyer, owner or developer dealing with agricultural land in the Cauvery Delta should therefore establish whether the land falls within the scheduled zone and whether a proposed new use is among the scheduled prohibited activities.
Administration and agricultural development
The Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Authority is created with its headquarters in Chennai. The Chief Minister is its Chairperson, and its membership includes ministers, senior government officials, agricultural experts, elected representatives and farmer representatives.
The Authority’s functions include:
- recommending policies to protect and develop agriculture;
- supporting irrigation, flood management and water harvesting;
- preserving agricultural land for farming and allied activities;
- promoting soil health, efficient irrigation, agricultural machinery and solar energy;
- supporting direct marketing, Farmer Producer Organization outlets, food parks and agro-processing clusters;
- promoting employment for agricultural labourers, agroforestry and social forestry.
Each district has a District Level Committee chaired by the District Collector. The committee carries out the Authority’s directions and assists with its functions in the district.
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Common questions
Can I start a new industrial or commercial project on land in the protected agricultural zone?
A new project or activity listed in the Second Schedule cannot be started in the protected agricultural zone. The supplied text does not include that Schedule, so it does not show which specific projects are prohibited.
Does the Act stop a project that was already operating when it came into force?
No. The prohibition does not affect activities or projects that were already operating in the protected agricultural zone before the Act came into force.
Are roads, pipelines and utility works prohibited in the zone?
No. Infrastructure developments such as harbours, pipelines, roads, telecommunications, power, water supply and other utilities are not affected by the prohibition.
Who handles implementation at the district level?
A District Level Committee chaired by the District Collector carries out directions from the Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Authority and assists the Authority within the district.
