“ “Paddy land” and “Wetlands” are defined under Section 2(xii) and 2(xviii) of the Act respectively. As per Section 5(4), the Committee shall inter alia prepare a Data Bank with details of cultivable paddy land within the jurisdiction of the committee. If the land is not included in the Data Bank or Draft Data Bank prepared under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 and if it is not a “Paddy Land” or Wetland” as defined under Act 28 of 2008, at the time of commencement of the Act 12 (sic Act 28) of 2008 and the classification of land is noted as “Nilam” in the revenue records, the provision of Kerala Land Utilisation Order 1967 will be applicable to such land and the Collector as defined in clause 2(a) of the K.L.U. Order 1967 has the power to grant permission to utilise the land for other purpose. As stated in clause 2(a) of the K.L.U, Order, Collectors shall examine such request for residential purpose, on merits on a case to case basis. However, with a view to prevent indiscriminate filling of paddy lands in the State, the Government have also prescribed certain restrictions in the Notification dated 5.2.2002 noted (supra), in which District Collectors have been directed inter alia to ensure that the conversion which are likely to render irrigation
