Tamil Nadu Cabinet relaxes rules to give patta in unobjectionable poromboke land

Tamil Nadu Cabinet decides to resolve a six-decades-old issue to provide pattas to about 86,000 people.

In a significant development, a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday (February 10, 2025), decided to resolve a six-decades-old issue to provide pattas to about 86,000 people. The decision would benefit those who have been living in “unobjectionable poromboke land” in major cities like Chennai for a long time and in the ‘belt areas’ around them.

The Cabinet also cleared investment proposals to the tune of ₹7,375 crore.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that State-and district-level committees would be constituted to complete the task of giving pattas to these families within six months. About 29,100 people are living in ‘unobjectionable poromboke land’ in Chennai and the ‘belt area’ around it, while about 57,000 people are living in such areas in Madurai, Tirunelveli and around the headquarters of various districts.

Terming it a “solution” to the 63-year-old issue facing the poor and the downtrodden, Mr. Stalin in a social media post said his government was for ‘Everything for Everyone’. Since coming to office, the DMK had granted over 12.29 lakh pattas to the people, he said.

Revenue Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said the decision would be “etched in history”. “Our Chief Minister, taking over from [late DMK leader and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi] Kalaignar, is initiating steps to ensure that no individual should remain without a place or a house to live.”

In 1962, the Madras government imposed a ban on assigning certain category of land or otherwise dispose of vacant land in Madras or in the ‘belt area’ around it in a radius of 20 miles. It also listed the villages in the ‘belt area’. Similar orders were issued for major cities. However, over the years, “encroachments” were made on this land, and there were applications for pattas but only to be prevented by the government order issued in this regard in 1962. The decision made on Monday to relax the norms would benefit over 86,000 people.

The Cabinet also approved investment proposals to the tune of ₹7,375 crore. The proposals from five companies are expected to generate jobs for about 19,300 people.