Land-grab warning in NCD out

 NATIONAL Central District residents have been warned of land-grabbing in the reserved areas and those who are developing vacant government land are doing so at their own risk, an official from the Office of the Surveyor General said.

Senior surveyor Arthur Unage said vacant government land such as reserved drainage areas were left without any description for a reason and anyone developing this was taking a risk.

Commenting on concerns raised by Gerehu residents about developments at their major drainage reserve area, Unage said physical planners and surveyors had purposely left that land vacant to cater for storm water drain.

 “They can build and develop on this reserved land, but when there is a downpour, the developers will be at the risk of their properties being destroyed,” Unage said.

“And when their properties are destroyed, who will be responsible, this is the risk that these developers face.” 

According to residents, the developers of the land Section 306, Allotment 34 allegedly diverted the drain away from its normal storm water system which is now affecting Section 306 Allotment 33, eroding road easement along Tarumana Road near the major drainage bridge.

Further destruction of the major drainage is continuing to cause more risks to the bridge and the road linking Gerehu stages 4, 5 and 6 as well as pausing high flooding of storm water overflowing Tarumana.

The developers have gone to the extent of putting up a fence around the area. 

This is despite NCDC’s  calls and warnings against such activities.

Deputy city administrator regulatory services, Kenneth Atasoa said all these sites had been served Unauthorised Use notices.

He said the offenders were required to respond by ceasing their unauthorised developments and failure to do would require a National Court order for them to comply.