TLTB Chief Executive Tevita Kuruvakadua

The I-Taukei Land Trust Board and the Lands Ministry are currently trying to verify claims.

The claims of whether there was any compensation paid to the landowners of where the Savura Dam is currently located.

TLTB Chief Executive Tevita Kuruvakadua has confirmed that a special water catchment lease was issued to government in 1967.

Kuruvakdua says 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.

He says the issue of compensation claimed by the landowners need to be clarified further with the Ministry of Lands.

Meanwhile, some landowners from Mataqali Valebure at Colo-i-Suva tried to close the dam last Saturday after claiming that they unsuccessfully have been trying to get compensated for the leased land.