He said that although this is a lease issued 52 years ago, the annual lease payment has been reviewed from $2,643 previously to the current annual rate of $120,000. The issue of compensation claimed by the landowners need to be clarified further with the Ministry of Lands.
In response to the claim made by the itaukei landowners where the Suva Water Supply Catchment Area (Savura) is located, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) now confirms that a special water catchment lease was issued to the Government in 1967.
The leased land which covered a total land area of 100.8 hectares is owned by five landowning units including Mataqali Solia (Navatuvula), Mataqali Rokotarotaro, Mataqali Valebure, Mataqali Daunivurevure and Mataqali Naisagavaki.
What is currently being questioned by Mataqali Valebure is whether there was a compensation paid to them for the standing trees since the beginning of the lease.
CEO Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua said TLTB together with the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Forest are currently verifying whether there was any compensation payment done at that time.
He said that although this is a lease issued 52 years ago, the annual lease payment has been reviewed from $2,643 previously to the current annual rate of $120,000. The issue of compensation claimed by the landowners need to be clarified further with the Ministry of Lands.
Landowners from Mataqali Valebure at Colo-i-Suva tried to close the dam last Saturday after they have been unsuccessfully trying to get compensated for the trees on the leased land. Landowners have always been advised not to take the law into their own hands.
In response to the claim made by the itaukei landowners where the Suva Water Supply Catchment Area (Savura) is located, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) now confirms that a special water catchment lease was issued to the Government in 1967.
The leased land which covered a total land area of 100.8 hectares is owned by five landowning units including Mataqali Solia (Navatuvula), Mataqali Rokotarotaro, Mataqali Valebure, Mataqali Daunivurevure and Mataqali Naisagavaki.
What is currently being questioned by Mataqali Valebure is whether there was a compensation paid to them for the standing trees since the beginning of the lease.
CEO Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua said TLTB together with the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Forest are currently verifying whether there was any compensation payment done at that time.
He said that although this is a lease issued 52 years ago, the annual lease payment has been reviewed from $2,643 previously to the current annual rate of $120,000. The issue of compensation claimed by the landowners need to be clarified further with the Ministry of Lands.
Landowners from Mataqali Valebure at Colo-i-Suva tried to close the dam last Saturday after they have been unsuccessfully trying to get compensated for the trees on the leased land. Landowners have always been advised not to take the law into their own hands.
In response to the claim made by the itaukei landowners where the Suva Water Supply Catchment Area (Savura) is located, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) now confirms that a special water catchment lease was issued to the Government in 1967.
The leased land which covered a total land area of 100.8 hectares is owned by five landowning units including Mataqali Solia (Navatuvula), Mataqali Rokotarotaro, Mataqali Valebure, Mataqali Daunivurevure and Mataqali Naisagavaki.
What is currently being questioned by Mataqali Valebure is whether there was a compensation paid to them for the standing trees since the beginning of the lease.
CEO Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua said TLTB together with the Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Forest are currently verifying whether there was any compensation payment done at that time.
He said that although this is a lease issued 52 years ago, the annual lease payment has been reviewed from $2,643 previously to the current annual rate of $120,000. The issue of compensation claimed by the landowners need to be clarified further with the Ministry of Lands.
Landowners from Mataqali Valebure at Colo-i-Suva tried to close the dam last Saturday after they have been unsuccessfully trying to get compensated for the trees on the leased land. Landowners have always been advised not to take the law into their own hands.
Ends.