KUCHING: Four areas in Betong division, namely Sungai Pasir in Nyabor, Kabong, Sungai Bah, Emplam in Kabong (Area B), Sungai Wong in Roban and Melupa in Krian Tengah, Saratok, have been gazetted as Native Communal Reserve under Section 6 of the State Land Code.

A statement from Land and Survey Department said this ruling would benefit 902 families living in these areas.

“This means the landowners should not be worried about their land being encroached. This gazette is enough to prove ownership to the land and the boundaries of land belonging to them,” the statement said yesterday.

Twenty-eight land titles were presented during a ceremony at the community hall in Saratok on July 1. It was graced by Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan, who is also Saratok MP.

At the same function, 208 compensation cheques totalling RM825,016.40 were disbursed to 166 landowners involved in the proposed Seblak Padi Irrigation Scheme (Package C: Phase 2) project and the proposed Beting Maro Controlled Drainage Scheme project.

Both projects are said to benefit the folk at Kampung Empelam, Rumah Mawan Empayak, Kampung Paloh and Kampung Beting Maro.

The retaining wall to be built for the project will facilitate movement of people and goods and at the same, prevent saline water from overflowing into the farms, added the statement.