Abstract
This paper argues that paddy land has become a contested space for competing policy objectives in Kerala, one of the southernmost Indian states. It critically examines two competing policy approaches in the state: one focused on fostering economic growth through investment-friendly policies and the other prioritising the preservation of ecological resources for long-term sustainability. It analyses how conservation laws are gradually weakened to foster an investment-friendly environment. In addition, it examines the shift from viewing land primarily as leverage, which has undermined efforts towards long-term sustainability. The insights informing this analysis were drawn from ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Thrikkakara, a municipal town on the periphery of Ernakulam city.
Recommended Citation (provided in OSCOLA format)
Neethu Das,
"Speculative Urbanism Versus Paddy Land Conservation: The Land Paradox in Policy Making"
(2026)
10(1)
Journal of Law and Public Policy
Available at:
https://repository.nls.ac.in/jlpp/vol10/iss1/1