ALRO set to seize 535-rai plot encroached on by ex-police chief
Authorities are taking back a large plot of land in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district from a police major general in response to a final court ruling.
Last year, the Supreme Court ordered Pol Maj-General Chalee Pekanan, a former chief of the Marine Police Division, to vacate the 535-rai (85-hectare) plot. However, caretakers are still looking after seminar buildings, a reception hall, a stable and a horse-riding field.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya will visit the plot today to erect a sign announcing the legal execution of the court ruling.
The land will be returned to the Agricultural Reform Land Office (ALRO), which will then reallocate it to landless farmers.
“The ALRO started investigating reports that [Chalee] encroached on the plot in 2006,” Chamnan Klinchan, an official from the Nakhon Ratchasima ARLO Office, said yesterday.
He said the ALRO told Chalee to vacate the land after an investigation showed encroachment.
“But he has refused. So, the ALRO turned to the court,” he said.
Chamnan said the erection of the sign announcing the legal execution was part of the necessary legal process to reclaim the land.
“Following the erection, if the occupier still refuses to vacate, we will enforce the NCPO’s [National Council for Peace and order] order in seizing the land plot,” he said,
He added that the ALRO could also demolish buildings on the plot.
Nakhon Ratchasima has the biggest land encroachment problem, according to authorities, with 113,964 rai to be reclaimed.
Chamnan said the ALRO had also won final court rulings to reclaim 1,027 rai from Chukiat Tangpongpratch and 110 rai from Sukij Techarattanachok.
RELATED