Lack of funds delays land audit

LANDS and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso told Parliament yesterday that there are no funds for the audit of state land throughout the country.
Rosso was responding to Bogia MP Robert Naguri’s question about the Lands department’s plans to carry out an audit of all the state land to ensure that the compensation claims were valid. I’m aware of the announcement made by the Lands department last year under the former minister to carry out the audit of state land,” he said.
“It’s not just station land, it’s a lot of cities and towns also affected and some plantation land.
“The Lands department was trying to carry out that audit last year but could not due to funding constraints.”
Naguri said he was stopped by landowners when he tried to put up infrastructure development at Bogia station. Rosso said this was a serious matter that was also a concern throughout PNG.
He said this activity was included in the budget for next year and that Bogia would be given priority.
“It’s a very serious issue, not just in your electorate but there are similar issues in a lot of the stations and subdistricts around the country.
“As per directives from Cabinet, through Prime Minister James Marape, I have been directed to ensure that the department carries out a comprehensive stock take of all our land and redefine the boundaries for stations and lands in PNG,” Rosso said.
“I would like to discuss this with you (Naguri) and if you are able to, through your District Services Improvement Programme funds, allocate some funding, we will address your issues immediately with officers from Lands,” he said.