The Agricultural Land Reform Office has requested a budget from the central fund for the re-allocation of about 3,000 rai seized from illegal occupants to landless farmers, Alro secretary-general Sansern Ajjutmanus said.
Mr Sansern said the request had been forwarded to the Budget Bureau. He did not reveal the amount being sought.
He said Alro now had about 3,000 rai of land ready to be allocated to farmers. It comprised four tracts retaken from three individuals - 1,027 rai in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district from Chukiat Tangpongprat; two 971 rai blocks in Surat Thani province from Suthat Khunrakpong; and 1,060 rai in Kanchaburi from Piangjai Hanpanich.
Alro planned to re-allocate the Sor Por Kor land to farmers by the end of this year, if funds were approved.
Mr Sansern said he had also instructed Alro chiefs in 27 provinces to expedite the verification of Por Bor Thor 5 documents (local tax payment slips) filed by people who had each illegally occupied more than 500 rai of land designated for agricultural reform, to confirm they had legally made use of the land.
Those people were challenging the state's plan to take back the land. Their petitions were for around 200,000 rai of land in total.
In the 27 provinces, Alro aimed to recall 431 blocks of land totalling 441,000 rai, he said. All but 28 of the occupants had petitioned against the land being taken over.