Kerala Land Conversion (Tharam Mattam) Explained: Form 5, Form 6 & Form 7 — Complete 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know about converting paddy land and wetland in Kerala under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008. A step-by-step guide to Form 5, Form 6, and Form 7 applications.
Land conversion in Kerala — tharam mattam (തരം മാറ്റം) — means obtaining permission under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 to use paddy land or wetland for a non-agricultural purpose. Form 5 removes wrongly listed land from the Data Bank; Form 6 converts land up to 50 cents; Form 7 converts larger parcels with a water-conservation plan. Applications go to the Revenue Divisional Officer through the Revenue eServices portal and take roughly one to six months.
Land conversion in Kerala is one of the most regulated processes in Indian real estate. Governed by the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, the process requires navigating a layered bureaucratic system involving Village Officers, Taluk Land Board officials, and in some cases, the State-Level Monitoring Committee.
What is Land Conversion?
Land conversion is the legal process of changing the classification of a property from agricultural (paddy or wetland) to non-agricultural use — residential, commercial, or industrial. Without formal conversion, any construction or development on classified paddy land or wetland is illegal and subject to demolition orders, penalties, and criminal prosecution.
Understanding the Data Bank
Before applying for conversion, the first step is determining whether your property is listed in the Data Bank — the official registry maintained by the Revenue Department of all land classified as paddy or wetland as of August 12, 2008. If your land is in the Data Bank, you must first apply for removal via Form 5 before proceeding with conversion.
Form 5 — Data Bank Removal
Form 5 is not a conversion application. It is a petition to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to remove your land from the Data Bank on the grounds that it was erroneously included — for example, if the land was never actually paddy or wetland, or if it was already converted prior to 2008. The process typically takes 30–90 days and requires survey records, historical ownership documents, and sometimes satellite imagery evidence.
Form 6 — Conversion Up to 50 Cents (20.23 Ares)
Form 6 is the standard conversion application for smaller parcels of land up to 20.23 Ares (approximately 50 cents). Applications are submitted to the Local Committee through the Village Officer. Required documents include the original sale deed, tax receipts, survey sketch, and building plan (if applicable). The local committee conducts a site inspection and makes a recommendation to the RDO, who has the authority to grant or reject the application. Processing time is typically 45–120 days.
Form 7 — Conversion Above 50 Cents
Form 7 is required for larger parcels exceeding 20.23 Ares. The application follows a similar process to Form 6 but includes additional requirements: a water conservation plan covering at least 10% of the total land area, environmental impact considerations, and in some cases, approval from the State-Level Monitoring Committee. The process takes 90–180 days or longer for large-scale projects.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
We have seen hundreds of conversion applications fail or stall for preventable reasons. The most common mistakes include: filing Form 6 or Form 7 without first clearing the Data Bank entry, submitting incomplete survey records, failing to account for neighboring property boundaries, not engaging local representation for site inspections, and underestimating the timeline for larger parcels that require State-Level Monitoring Committee review.
Why Professional Advisory Matters
Land conversion in Kerala is not a simple filing exercise. It involves understanding local political dynamics, maintaining relationships with Revenue Department officials, anticipating objections from neighbors or environmental groups, and navigating a system that changes frequently through government orders and circulars. At J Group Consultancy, we have been guiding property owners, developers, and NRIs through this process for over three decades.
The documents each of these forms sits alongside have guides of their own: the Data Bank at /guides/data-bank-kerala-paddy-wetland, fair value at /guides/fair-value-of-land-kerala, the possession certificate at /guides/possession-certificate-kerala, mutation at /guides/pokkuvaravu-mutation-kerala and the land tax receipt every file needs at /guides/kerala-land-tax-online. Where an application has stalled, /guides/form-5-rejected-or-delayed-kerala covers what the courts have said about delay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Form 5, Form 6 and Form 7?
Form 5 removes land from the Data Bank (it is not a conversion). Form 6 converts paddy or wetland up to 20.23 ares (50 cents). Form 7 converts larger parcels and requires a water-conservation plan for 10% of the land. If the land is in the Data Bank, Form 5 comes first.
How many forms are there for land conversion in Kerala?
Three matter to owners: Form 5 (Data Bank removal), Form 6 (conversion up to 50 cents) and Form 7 (conversion above 50 cents). Which one applies depends on whether the land is in the Data Bank and on its extent.
Can I convert wetland to dry land online in Kerala?
Yes. Form 6 and Form 7 applications are filed through Citizen Login on the Revenue eServices portal (revenue.kerala.gov.in) or at an Akshaya centre, and the status can be tracked online under Application Status → Tharam Mattam without logging in.
How long does land conversion take in Kerala?
Form 5: 30–90 days. Form 6: 45–120 days. Form 7: 90–180 days or longer. Pending field reports and objections are the usual reasons for delay.
What is the Kerala Data Bank for paddy and wetland?
The village-wise register of paddy land and wetland as on 12 August 2008, prepared under the Act by the Local Level Monitoring Committee. Land in the Data Bank must be removed through Form 5 before any conversion.
With over three decades of experience in strategic advisory and risk management in Kerala, J Group Consultancy provides insights drawn from real cases and institutional knowledge.
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