There are more than a thousand unresolved cases of land seizure in Yangon so far under the NLD government, according to the committee appointed to oversee disputes involving such seizures.
U Than Myint, secretary of the committee said, “All 1905 land seizure cases in Yangon are not yet resolved under the NLD government.
“About 59 cases have reached the central government level for a final decision but no resolutions have been reached.”
The committee – which was formed by the NLD government in August 2016 – reported on the progress made in processing land disputes at a press conference at the Yangon Regional Government office on Thursday.
According to a spokesperson, of the 1905 land seizure cases in Yangon Region, about 377 cases have reached the regional government and only 59 have reached the central government.
The committee said that 337 cases involving 6594 acres had reached the regional government and more than 100,000 acres involved the Yangon City Development Committee.
U Than Myint said that when the committee scrutinises cases, they check the background carefully, because if land has been seized under the rules and regulations prevailing at the time, they do not pay out compensation.
“We don’t pay compensation in cases where land has been confiscated under the land acquisition law.
“That’s why we need to check to make sure all the rules and regulations have been followed. But most of the cases lack evidence because they took place a long time ago and the proof has been lost,” he said.
If the matter warrants it, the committee pays compensation based on an appraisal.
“When we give compensation, we check the previous land price and adjust for current prices. But in most cases, compensation is based on the current land price,” he said.
U Than Lwin Oo, head of the city’s Urban Planning and Land Administration Department, said his department paid about K148 million in compensation last year.
“Land was seized by different ministries and departments. Yangon has the most number of seizures by the YCDC. When there is a need to pay compensation, it has to come out of our budget,” he said.
Source: Myanmar Times
