Land re-confiscated: Over 19,000 acres reclaimed in Taninthayi Region since May 11

More than 19,000 acres of uncultivated virgin lands in Taninthayi Region have been reclaimed by the Regional Central Committee on Management of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands.

The Regional Central Committee made land reclamation in accordance with Section-22(A/3) of the Management of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Law and Section 22 (B) of the by-law, due to failure to carry out the business in accord with the stipulated terms and conditions.

The licenses have been revoked starting from 11th May this year, and also, the insurance premiums were confiscated as the state finance.

After enacting the Management of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Law in 2012, over 64,000 acres of vacant, fallow and virgin lands have been permitted to date.

Director General, Thet Naing Oo, Department of Agriculture said "After enacting the Management of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Law in 2012, more than 19,000 acres which was not cultivated within the stipulated time out of more than 64,000 acres of permitted lands was reclaimed. The permitted lands must be carried out responsibly once approved by the Central Committee. The government has given these lands for free, and the users only have to pay for the premium fee. Previously, it was 100 kyats per acre and now, the premium rate increased to 10,000 kyats per acre."

There are more than 290,000 acres of virgin lands which is permitted by the Regional Central Committee before 2012, and more than 56,000 out of those permitted lands have already been reclaimed in line with the rules and regulations since they have not been implemented within four years from the permission date.