Pilot land project set to be launched

Neuigkeiten aus Thailand
Antworten
Benutzeravatar
nittaabi
Administrator
Administrator
Beiträge: 88
Registriert: Sa 5. Jun 2010, 15:36
Kontaktdaten:

#1 Pilot land project set to be launched

Beitrag von nittaabi »

Pilot land project set to be launched
By Pongphon Sarnsmak
The Nation

Govt to spend Bt200m on 1,655 rai in the North for distribution to poor; property, land-tax bill going ahead

The government will spend Bt200 million to purchase 1,655 rai of land in Chiang Mai and Lamphun and distribute it to landless poor as a pilot project in land reallocation aimed at eventually narrowing the income gap and other inequalities.

At the seminar entitled "Land Management: Problems and Resolutions" at Government House, Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam told the audience a public agency would be set up to reallocate land to the poor. The agency should function for three to five years until formation of the Land Bank.

A draft bill to set up the Land Bank is being screened by the Council of State. The bank will be managed and administered by a committee comprising representatives from the interior, agriculture and finance ministries, community members and experts.

Reducing poverty

"This is part of the government's policy of reducing poverty and income inequality," Thaworn said.

At the seminar, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that in addressing the fact that many have no land while a few had large land holdings, his government was focusing on these four policies:

n It will push for a community title-deed law, to allow communities to own and manage their own land. Within a few months, communities in 30 pilot locations will be handed title deeds.

n Property and land taxes will be enforced, charging landlords who make no use of their land.

n The government will push for a law to support Land Bank operations.

n It will also complete a land database to clear up conflicting ownerships.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will spend two years on the land survey.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the government is now pushing forward the progressive property and land-tax bill. While land used for agricultural purposes is charged a low rate, owners of abandoned land will be charged more.

"I believe this bill will help us reduce income and social inequalities," he said.

Two per cent of collected property and land taxes, or about Bt500 million, will be used to support the Land Bank, with the rest going to local governments.

Bt25 billion revenue

He estimates the revenue collected under the new law at Bt25 billion per year.

"Drafting the law is a complicated process, due to many obstacles ... But the government is determined to push for the most concrete law, to reduce disparities and create fairness in society. No government would dare turn their backs on real public needs," Korn said.

The finance minister said some 90 per cent of Thais owned less than 1 rai each while the rest owned 100 rai or more. He expects the bill to be the first to be discussed when Parliament resumes in August.

Thaworn said Bt200 million would come from the central budget. The Community Organisation Development Institute will run the project.

The poor can lease land from the government or obtain the licence to use the land.

A special working group, including representatives from the Lands Department, is in place to study the purchase of land from their owners.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/20 ... 32407.html


Antworten

Wer ist online?

Mitglieder in diesem Forum: 0 Mitglieder und 68 Gäste