The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to limit the extent of land that can be used by plantations for tourism purposes.

The State, by way of an amendment to the Land Reforms Act, had earlier allowed 5 per cent of land in recognised plantations to be used for cultivating non-plantation crops and tourism. (The Bill passed by the previous United Democratic Front government in 2005 received President’s assent recently). The Cabinet decision specified that 90 per cent of the five per cent land being diverted should be used for mixed farming, dairying, cultivation of vegetables, fruits, ornamental flowers, and medicinal plants,