Sarikei:  The Divisional Land and Survey Department is targeting to cover an area of 45,000 hectares (ha) per year under the government’s new initiative perimeter survey of native customary rights (NCR) land.

That would enable them to complete perimeter survey of about 200,000 ha of NCR land in the division by year 2015, its superintendent Mohd Razali Arshad said during the launching ceremony of perimeter survey on NCR land along Jalan Entabai-Entaih at Rumah Ukam Maweng, Nanga Engkamop Julau yesterday.

Since starting the perimeter survey works in October last year they had already covered total of 19,154 ha in seven areas.

They comprised of Muara Payang which involved 1,839 ha; Jalan Pakan Sesco (4,299 ha); Sungai Ensiring (4,765 ha); Kampung Selemas (616 ha); Jalan Selalang/Gerigat (376 ha), Loba Bunut (890 ha) and Jalan Entabai/Entaih (6369 ha).

“They had completed the survey work and is in the process of gazetting all those areas, except for Loba Bunut area where they had just completed the survey work and Jalan Entabai/Entaih which was officially launched today and the work is expected to start by next week,” he said.

For this year, the department has proposed to cover 11 more areas involving a total of 59,252 ha.

The areas are Sungai Buku (6881 ha), Jalan Pakan Ulu Kota (5989 ha), Jalan Wuak Pakan (4907 ha); Sungai Julau, Ulu Pedanum (6846 ha), Sungai Wuak Pakan (5364 ha); Sungai Genaga Ulu Kota ( 5229 ha); Jalan Pakan Ulu Kota (5655 ha); Ulu Julau (5909 ha) Sungai Julau (3714 ha) and Sungai Pakan (4376 ha).

Razali appealed for the close co-operation from all the landowners to ensure an uninterrupted perimeter survey work.

In that respect, he advised those who encountered problem with their NCR land to consult his department as it is the best and most reliable avenue to settle such matter, he stressed.

“A working committee has been specially set up at the Land and Survey Office to address all NCR land issues,” he said.

Among those present at the ceremony officiated at by Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom were Meluan incumbent Wong Judat, Sarikei Resident Michael Dawi Alli and political secretaries to the Chief Minister, Paul Igai and Perter Howell and Penghulu Mawan Layang.

(Source:  The Borneo Post, 6 April 2011)