THE National Reform Council (NRC) y

THE National Reform Council (NRC) yesterday agreed to propose draft legislation to set up a land bank in a bid to prevent land grabbing by investors. The council gave 143 votes in support of the bill, with 53 votes against and 25 abstentions.
The NRC also approved a report on creating a land bank by its two committees. A total of 166 NRC members voted in support of the report while 41 voted against and 14 abstained. The proposed bill will be submitted to Cabinet later.
NRC member Kobsak Phutrakul said the proposed land bank, with Bt5.7 billion capital, would benefit 500,000 poor farmers and underprivileged people, plus 800,000 others who live on land without titles. The bank's 11-strong committee would enable farmers to access funding and apply for 10-year leases to prevent land grabbing by investors.
Meanwhile, Land Department chief Siripong Hantrakul said his office's satellite-based Real-time Kinematic system had enabled the issuing of land documents for 12,492 plots covering 71,840 rai in 48 provinces from December 2014 to April 2015. The idea was to speedily and accurately issue such documents to qualified plots, provide clarity on land boundaries and reduce disputes, and enable people to possess land with confidence and security.
The Cabinet yesterday assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to consult with related agencies over implementation of the crackdown on rubber plantations that encroach on forestland, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the deputy spokesperson of the PM's Office said. The guideline was that 60 per cent of the encroaching plantations would be cut down because rubber trees could not be turned into fertile forestland. The other 40 per cent would be managed by the ministry and the latex would belong to communities or the state. It would be sold at a lower-than-market price to help rubber tappers earn some income, Sansern said.
Meanwhile, Army Region 2 chief of staff Col Sommai Budsaba is going to check more land allegedly encroached on in Wang Nam Khieo district in Nakhon Ratchasima province. In Sukhothai's Sri Satchanalai district, 250 officials yesterday cut down 12,500 rubber trees and demolished huts on two plots covering 355 rai, that are allegedly part