Royal Forest Department probes illegal land sales in Chiang Mai
The Royal Forest Department is currently investigating land allocated under the National Land Policy Programme (KTC) in Chiang Mai after reports of sales being advertised on social media. This programme, aimed at assisting the underprivileged, prohibits the sale or transfer of these lands.
Yesterday, March 27, Surachai Achalaboon, Director General of the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, announced that an investigation was underway into lands distributed by the government to the needy.
The initial probe revealed that some of this land was being advertised for sale on social media platforms.
Officials from the Forest Resource Management Office 1 in Chiang Mai, in collaboration with the district administration of Doi Saket and Doi Saket Police Station, conducted inspections.
The land in question was found in Moo 4, Ban Pong Kum, Pa Miang subdistrict, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai province, within the Khun Mae Kuang National Reserved Forest area, as per Ministerial Regulation No. 455 (1972) issued under the National Reserved Forests Act 1964.
The inspected land was fenced with barbed wire, with structures such as residential homes, shelters, and storage facilities. A comparison with photographs posted online confirmed the match with the actual site.
This land falls under the land allocation for the community programme (KTC), which stipulates that allocated land can be inherited but not sold or transferred.
Any such sale is a legal violation under the Forestry Act 1941, sections 54 and 55, and the National Reserved Forests Act 1964, sections 14 and 31. Relevant agencies have seized the property and are pursuing legal action.
The director-general of the Royal Forest Department stated that the department is rigorously enforcing laws under the policy of Doctor Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.
The objective is to prevent illegal sales and transfers of national reserved forest lands and to ensure these lands benefit the original needy occupants.
This effort aims to secure these lands for future generations, preventing their acquisition by investors or unauthorised people, as per the Cabinet resolution on November 26, 2018.
In areas currently under survey and those authorised for community land allocation, the Royal Forest Department will continue stringent law enforcement to protect forest resources and uphold the legal rights of land recipients.
The department has issued a warning to those granted KTC land rights to adhere strictly to legal usage conditions, prohibiting any sale or transfer. Failure to comply will result in the revocation of rights and legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.
Additionally, the public is advised to be cautious of purchasing lands claimed to be KTC, Por Bor Tor 5, or pending rights confirmation, as these lands cannot be legally sold, and violators risk financial loss and legal action, Surachai warned.
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