The ROC government will carry out land appropriation in the public’s interest and make every effort to protect the rights of owners while ensuring sustainable agricultural development, the Ministry of the Interior and the Council of Agriculture said July 17.
“Land justice is a top MOI policy making priority,” MOI Minister Jiang Yi-huah said. “Draft amendments to the Land Appropriation Act being reviewed by the Cabinet represent the government’s determination in this regard.”
Under the revised act, the government will no longer have the right to seize prime farmland without proper causes, and farmers whose land has been expropriated under the right of eminent domain are entitled to fair compensation.
COA Minister Chen Wu-hsiung said sustainable development is high on the council’s agenda, with an inventory of Taiwan’s farmland—expected to be completed by the end of the year—serving as the basis for future planning and management.
The officials’ remarks came after several groups staged protests July 17 on Ketagalan Boulevard near the Presidential Office over recent land appropriation projects implemented by the government.
The groups expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in enacting proposed amendments and the fact that water intended for irrigation is being diverted to industry.
Jiang said to bring local officials and experts up to date on the draft amendments, the MOI hosted three public hearings and four seminars and a comprehensive study.
“The amendments have taken into account the appeals of farmer groups, and the MOI will continue to communicate with all stakeholders for consensus,” Jiang said.
Chen said at present, only 160 million tons of irrigation water, or 1.5 percent of Taiwan’s annual total, is being diverted for industrial use. “This is only a temporary measure,” he added.
The Water Resources Agency is working on several management measures to develop new supply sources for the industrial sector, Chen said.
The COA will keep mapping out policies aimed at ensuring sustainable agricultural development, Chen said. These include protecting farmland, increasing Taiwan’s food self-sufficiency and formulating strategies to stabilize the production and distribution of agricultural products
