Agency to annul cliff land deeds

Agency to annul cliff land deeds

Officials, scholar linked to Lamtakong title scam

The Nakhon Ratchasima land office says it is ready to revoke the land title deeds issued for the overhanging cliff in the Lamtakong self-help settlement in Pak Chong district.

The area made headlines after Col Sommai Busaba, chief of the 2nd Army's legal team, earlier led his team to survey the state-run settlement project's alleged encroachment on 330 rai around the overhanging cliff in Khao Nong Cheum. 

Six senior police, two public prosecutors, a university lecturer and relatives of politicians were allegedly involved in the encroachment.

Molsak Jongrak, the office chief, said title deeds were approved for the settlement project, but the overhanging cliff areas were not supposed to be included in the deeds. 

Mr Molsak said officers investigating the matter do not have to wait for the settlement operator to withdraw the land title deeds. 

The officers have to find out which of the 30-40 blocks under the deeds are located on the hill and then the Department of Lands (DOL) will rescind them, he said. 

They must report their findings within 15 days, he said, adding the land grab problem on Khao Nong Cheum could be solved by the end of this month.

Progress has been slow because the office must wait for the settlement operator's checks into how the Nor Sor 3 land ownership documents were issued in the prohibited areas, he said. 

The title deeds of 10 land plots are expected to be revoked soon as those areas belong to the military's Special Warfare Centre, Mr Molsak said.

The officers involved in issuing the deeds on the overhanging cliffs will be disciplined, he said.

Mr Molsak said he had also sent a letter to the DOL, seeking the revocation of the title deeds of the 30 rai of land owned by ex-Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith in Pak Chong district. 

Referring to the case, he said the Lamtakong self-help settlement operator issued Nor Sor 3 papers outside of its jurisdiction and then encroached on Khao Phu Luang, which is covered by the Sor Por Kor land management scheme for agricultural purposes, he added.

Meanwhile, Chavalit Chookajorn, permanent secretary for agriculture, said he had ordered his subordinates to survey the Sor Por Kor scheme in Nakhon Ratchasima after discovering some land under the programme was encroached upon. 

After the scheme's land plots in Wang Nam Khieo, Khao Phu Luang and Khao Pangma were examined, he said about 5% of the land plots had changed hands, adding that lawsuits will be launched to take them back.

Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said the crackdown on encroachment was not politically motivated. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has a clear policy of preventing anyone from exploiting protected land, Mr Sansern said.

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