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Govt. to acquire private lands
The Government will acquire private land for the resettlement of people displaced by the tsunami catastrophe, a top official said. It will invoke provisions of the Urban Development Authority Land Acquisition Act for this purpose, National Housing Development Authority Chairman M.N. Junaid said.

In addition to the UDA Act which packs a lot of power, Mr. Junaid also said that land could be acquired under a presidential directive. He said they would first look at state land in devastated areas for resettlement but if this was not adequate they would have no option but to get private land.

"When acquiring private land first the UDA will negotiate with the owner depending on a value given by the Chief Government Valuer. If there is no cooperation and the owner is seeking market price the Government will be forced to acquire the land," Mr. Junaid said.

Courting the Dhammapada, Mr. Junaid said "Thanhaya Jayathi Soko (from craving arises sorrow), has to be the fate of those refusing to give up private land for the resettlement of the tsunami victims. According to him this is a national crisis and whatever measures that have to be taken for the resettlement of the displaced populace will be taken by the Government.

An initial islandwide survey by the Special Unit for the tsunami-affected people estimated that about 75,000 houses were destroyed. Mr. Junaid said the need for land would arise because the Government would be strictly adhering to the 100-metre buffer zone on the coast.

He said those who had land within the 100-metre buffer zone would be allowed to fence the area and use it for any type of cultivation or as a garden but not for residing. He said the UDA, the Police and the Coast Conservation Department would take action against anyone flouting this rule. In the order of priority, the fisher folk would be the first amongst the tsunami displaced to be settled closest to the buffer zone. Others would be settled inland according to land availability, he said.

The official said the Government was looking at several options in terms of housing units for the displaced. Ground floor houses would be around 500 sq. feet occupying around 4-6 perches of land, whilst a condominium option was also being looked at with 30-50 houses being built on an acre of land. The per unit cost for these houses was estimated at Rs. 400,000. According to Mr. Junaid, the Government hopes to hand over the completed houses to the victims within one year.

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