Lands Minister, Ashneel Sudhakar in Parliament [Source: Fijian Government]

The government has issued 515 approval notice to lease for 22 informal settlements across the country.

Lands Minister, Ashneel Sudhakar says this will provide 2,575 individuals a sense of security and freedom.

Sudhakar adds 89 leases have been issued in the Central Division, 293 in the Western Division and 133 in the Northern Division.

He says the Approval Notice Leases are issued to informal settlements to regularise their occupation on State Land.

“After which, the Ministry hands over to the Department of Housing, for the proper housing development with proper provisions of water, power supply, drainage and sewerage reticulation (drainage and sewer line connection to individual lots is provided), road construction (FRA standard) and survey. Once, the development is completed and the survey plan is approved, the Ministry then issues proper leases to the individual tenants.”

Sudhakar adds 55 informal settlements out of the 64 identified has been surveyed.

He says a budget of over $669, 000 was allocated for this project under the 2016 to 2018 National Budget.

This project has been transferred to the Ministry of Housing and Community Development with a total budget of $300,000 in the 2018/2019 financial year.