Authority reclaims State land

THE Samarai-Murua development authority (DDA) is reclaiming all the undeveloped State land to be developed into agro-forest projects, MP Isi Leonard Henry says.
“Lands officers have already surveyed the undeveloped land and will submit a report to me.
“And the DDA has plans to develop projects so that youths will be employed and not get involved in criminal activities like sea piracy.”
Henry said Lands officers had audited all the State land and what sort of leases to be used.
The officers have been to Woodlark and Samarai, and done an audit on Loani.
“There are more than 3,000 hectares of land that are State lease.
“And these leases have been taken by certain individuals which have already expired,” he said.
“These leases were granted for agriculture development.
“And we have confirmed that these leases were not used for the intended purpose.
“They will be forfeited and given back to the district.”
Henry said because of the struggling economic situation, the district services improvement programme funds had been slashed from K10 million to K8 million.
“And so we have to create other means of revenue to fund development in the district.”