Old forests lose with legislation
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Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 17, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - A government sponsored amendment to allow the sale of land formerly considered as protected forest was passed Friday by Parliament.
The amendment to the Land Registry Law allows for the sale of state land, on which illegal settlement has occurred, to current users, generating significant income for the government, while registering illegally built houses.
Critics say that while the land of the already destroyed forests could be used to generate income, an amendment such as this would legitimize unlawful practices and result in an even greater destruction of forests.
When the Land Registry Law was passed in 2004, then president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, vetoed the entire bill because of a clause similar to the one currently proposed.
The government says most of the land that can be sold with this amendment now houses whole neighborhoods in many locations around the country.
The new amendment needs to be approved by the president to come into effect.
Critics say that while the land of the already destroyed forests could be used to generate income, an amendment such as this would legitimize unlawful practices and result in an even greater destruction of forests.
When the Land Registry Law was passed in 2004, then president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, vetoed the entire bill because of a clause similar to the one currently proposed.
The government says most of the land that can be sold with this amendment now houses whole neighborhoods in many locations around the country.
The new amendment needs to be approved by the president to come into effect.