Parliament Question: Conversion of Agricultural Land

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1509 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28TH JULY, 2026 CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND 1509. MR PATHAN YUSUF: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has collected data on the extent of agricultural land converted for industrial purposes across the country during the last five years, State-wise; (b) whether the Government has any guidelines or monitoring mechanism to ensure that conversion of agricultural land for industrial use is carried out only after obtaining the necessary administrative approvals and statutory environmental clearances; (c) whether the Government has received complaints regarding unauthorized conversion of agricultural land for industrial purposes without obtaining the required approvals, and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken; (d) whether the Government has assessed the impact of such conversion on agricultural production, groundwater recharge, biodiversity, and the overall environment; and (e) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to protect fertile agricultural land, prevent unauthorized land-use conversion and promote sustainable industrial development while ensuring environmental conservation? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (c): Land and agriculture are the state subjects, as per Entry No. 18 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Accordingly, regulation of land, land-use and conversion of agricultural land for industrial or other non-agricultural purposes falls within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments/Union Territory and is governed by the relevant State/UT specific laws. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare does not maintain data centrally on the extent of agricultural land converted for industrial purposes across the country. The Central Government has enacted the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013,which came into force on 01.01.2014. The Act mandates Social Impact Assessment prior to acquisition to evaluate the impact on livelihoods, agricultural practices and food security. Section 10 of the Act explicitly restricts the acquisition of multi-crop irrigated land, unless in exceptional cases where no alternative land is available. Wherever agricultural land is acquired, compensatory mechanisms, including monetary compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement benefits, and in some cases, land for land compensation etc. are provided to mitigate the impact on farmers. Environmental aspects relating to industrial projects are regulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Under this Act, the Central Government is empowered to impose restrictions or prohibitions on the location of industries and carrying out of certain processes or operations in specified areas, wherever considered necessary for environmental protection. Further, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, prescribes categories of projects and activities requiring prior Environmental Clearance from the competent authority before commencement of construction or other specified activities. (d) & (e): The Government of India supplements the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, schemes and programmes aimed at sustainable agricultural development, conservation of natural resources and enhancement of agricultural productivity. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing various Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes including the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm, National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds, Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). These initiatives promote sustainable agricultural practices, efficient use of natural resources, soil and water conservation, crop diversification and enhancement of agricultural productivity, thereby contributing to balanced and sustainable development while ensuring judicious use of natural resources and ecological balance. As per the Land Use Statistics 2024-25, the Gross Cropped Area has expanded significantly, rising from 198.28 million hectares in 2014-15 to 225.19 million hectares in 2024-25. The adoption of modern technologies and effective policy interventions has also led to a continuous improvement in cropping intensity, which has risen from 142.2% in 2014–15 to 159.7% in 2024–25, reflecting a positive shift toward multiple cropping practices, highlighting farmers’ enhanced ability to cultivate the same land more than once annually. Additionally, food grain production has increased from 252.02 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 376.56 million tonnes in 2025-26 (Advance Estimates), while horticulture production has increased from 280.98 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 377.77 million tonnes in 2025-26 (Advance Estimates). *****