By GABRIEL KATUHO
THE disgruntled landowners of the PNG LNG gas plant site have raised their concern on the recent conversation surrounding a partial of their land being given to a third-party entity by the government.
In a media conference on Monday, the LO group, led by Hiri Koiari MP, Hon. Keith Iduhu, expressed that a partial of land totaling 285 hectors was given to a corporate entity (named) by the PNG government through the department of Lands and physical planning in 2019.
They said a sub-divided partial was again granted to a certain operation, which operates the power plant at the PNG LNG site outside Port Moresby.
According to the LOs, in the early days of 2008, that land was the construction of the PNG LNG gas and the plant site.
They said much was then promised to the people of Hiri LLG, particularly the four impact villages, advising them that 4, 000 hectors of the land (formally known as the portion 152) would be curved out for the plant site.
It was promised to them that the residual titles that are now in existence would be reserved and granted in favor of business interest of the people of the Hiri West and the Hiri local level government. However, for 10 to 15 years now the small pockets of titles in the name of the state have been allegedly taken and granted to third parties.
Member for Hiri Koiari Keith Iduhu appealed to the Lands and Physical Planning Minister, Hon. John Rosso to conduct full investigations into the manner in which this land has been given away.
He wants a full audit of all the partial of state land in the area, full disclosure of all transactions or files relating to the 285 hectors of land that was initially granted to PEC to be produced.
“Because to begin with, in 1908, this land formally known as portion 152 totaling an area of 4, 000 hectors, was a subject of the native land dealing,” Iduhu said.
“This land belongs to the people of Boira, Papa, Lealea and because of the collaborative, portion 578 is the corridor of Konebada people and park authority.
“Whilst it was intended for by products of LNG to be produced there as an industrial park, nothing has been done but all we see is a little other setup that do not even reflect or resemble a petrochemical industry,” he said.
The LOs also asked Minister Rosso to cancel the land that was granted through a subsequent to a bypass off the requirement to advertise.
Iduhu said that the land should have been put on notice so that the people of Hiri West should have been given the opportunity to apply.
“Because you have denied them the opportunity to apply and been granted that land, our people are now demanding that those land titles be cancelled forthwith,” Iduhu said.
“The title must be cancelled forthwith because the proponents have no genuine intention, no will to do what they promised to you through the land board to develop,” he added.
The LOs want any state land, purported state land or even the customary land handovers and take overs should be stopped.
They have given the government through the department of Lands and Physical Planning five days to produce the land results.
The landowners said failure to do so will result in legal action.
