Govt rejects PPRP land policy plan

Govt rejects PPRP land policy plan

Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach on Wednesday shrugged off a land policy proposal floated by canvassing politicians that would allow farmers holding Sor Por Kor land documents to seek commercial gains from their property.

He said about 35 million rai was distributed to seven million poor farmers under the Sor Por Kor land reform scheme and land ownership cannot change hands except by being passed on to heirs.

"So if any political party wants to do this [change the policy], I can tell them that there is a law governing the Sor Kor Land scheme and the law doesn't allow them to proceed," he said.

Mr Grisada was reacting to a proposal made by Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) heavyweight Suchart Tancharoen who suggested that the use of Sor Por Kor land should be expanded instead of being limited to the purpose of farming only.

According to Mr Suchart's proposal, Sor Por Kor land should be used in other sectors such as industrial farming or healthcare resorts or in any other business activities that are deemed fit.

He suggested that the value of Sor Por Kor land would be increased if the land can be leased or sold. Moreover, the land could also be used as collateral to obtain loans.

The PPRP member said the Sor Por Kor land law should be amended as the approach would help lift millions of people out of poverty.

He said he intended to push this as the PPRP's policy.

Mr Suchart apparently eyed the Sor Por Kor land in the three provinces of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong which is part of the government's flagship Eastern Economic Corridor.

Earlier, another PPRP member Suriya Juangroongruangkit was quoted as saying that the PPRP would change the Sor Por Kor land documents into transferable title deeds within the next three years.

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