Land Conversion

Agricultural lands in Tamil Nadu are classified as Wet Land (Nanjai) and Dry Land (Punjai). Reclassification of agricultural land for purposes other than agriculture—such as residential, commercial, or industrial use—requires permission from the appropriate authority, following the rules and procedures laid down for conversion.

WET LAND (NANJAI)

• For conversion of Wet Land, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) must be obtained from the District Collector of the district where the land is situated.
• Statutory authorities from various departments under the District Collector conduct personal inspection and verification of the land before granting their consent for reclassification.
• If the Master Plan permits, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) or the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) will decide and approve the reclassification based on the Collector’s report.
• Patta records can be referred to verify the status of the land.

DRY LAND (PUNJAI)

• For conversion of Dry Land, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) must be obtained from the Joint Director of the Agricultural Department.