Land database for development

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 00:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SRI LANKA is preparing to carve out large tracts of land for development, but still does not have a database to monitor the allocations, increasing the danger for haphazard and mismanaged growth.

According to the Land and Land Development Minister, land allocation for development projects in the north and east will top 2,500 acres with the Government planning to reclaim 300,000 acres more from the rest of the country for various projects.

It has been reported that around 10,470 hectares (26,175 acres) of land in the North and East Provinces will be handed over for development work through the Government. This will include the investment zones that are being planned by the Government. Earlier the Cabinet had decided to establish an economic zone in Trincomalee and these plans are currently being finalised.

In addition the Government will also take steps to reclaim 300,000 acres of Government land that has been encroached on illegally by private parties. This land grabbing has occurred within the last five years. The Minister had remarked that encroachment of land was reducing the space available for development projects and that the Government would take steps to return them to the State.

Therefore, it is clear that a database to track land allocation in Sri Lanka has become a strong need, but thus far there hasn’t been a concentrated effort to establish one. At present around 82% of land in Sri Lanka is owned by the Government, but there is no central record database to map the usage of the land, leading to misappropriation and encroachment. In order for development to happen in an ordered and transparent manner, a central database for land must be established.

At present when institutions such as the Economic Ministry refer a proposal to the Land Commission, it is cross-checked with the environmental and archaeological authorities and then land is released. However, since 1930 there have been many legal changes made and there is little clear idea on how State land is being used in the entire country.

Seeking a solution, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has launched a pilot project to assess the State land in the Western Province, which will later be extended to other parts of the country. If this project is successful, then a natural database will be created. The ‘Bim Saviya’ project launched by the Land Ministry is another attempt to catalogue State land. Since a land database has to evolve constantly it is a huge challenge, but this programme hopes to assess public land in 10 years – a huge challenge but one that is necessary.

There have already been accusations on how prime land at Galle Face has been illegally sold to the Shangri-la hotel project. Instances of hidden transactions, bribery and corruption are strongly linked with land allocation and it is extremely important for the Government to have a transparent process that covers the entire country so that chunks of land are not randomly signed out. Even ministries should declare their land sales in Parliament as the Constitution clearly states that public assets are under the purview of Parliament and not individual ministries. An organised allocation of land is the only way to prevent having chunks of the country sold illegally and preserve it for the future generations.