Land used for chicken project belongs to State, says Maru

YANGORU-Saussia MP Richard Maru says the land on which a chicken project is located in East Yangoru’s Haripmo village is State land since 1968.
“The land was leased out with title,” he said, adding that there should not be any dispute on the matter.
Maru was responding to claims made by landowners on social media alleging that the land was acquired illegally for the project.
“Villagers at the project site are happy and are embracing the development,” Maru said.
“The people must not scare investors away.”
Landowner Thompson Benguma, from Haripmo village, said the land (Kanauki) was surveyed between 1971 and 1973 by colonial Australian surveyors and when the country secured self-governance, the land alienation process was not completed, thus rendering the land a customary land.
“After 42 years, in 2015, the Government, instead of reverting the land back to the landowners, issued titles of 64 portions of land to Maru through his company Sepik Agro Industry,” he said.
He alleged that the landowners had not been given the opportunity to participate in the chicken project.
“The Government allocated K100 million for the Sepik Plains Economic Zone and we do not know how this money was used. There is nothing to show for this money.
“We are calling on the prime minister to launch a full investigation into this project and the K100 million.
“The people own nothing. This is against what the Government is preaching.
“Landowner participation has been denied by the local MP.”