The government must lift its game when it comes to protecting farmland and providing appropriate compensation for affected individuals, according to Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah Oct. 6.
“The government is obligated to protect the rights of farmers who see their land expropriated,” Jiang said, adding that agricultural agencies will need to approve any future farmland development plans.
“A system for protecting quality farmland must be established, with the necessity of each development project comprehensively evaluated,” he said.
Jiang cited controversial farmland acquisition cases involving the Central Taiwan Science Park and Miaoli County government as exemplifying problems with the current system. “These disputes involve people’s lives and property,” he said. “This is why we have to review the current national spatial planning policy.”
According to Jiang, the National Territory Planning Act will go some way toward addressing policy shortcomings, and he hopes it will be approved by the Legislature in the near future.
In the meantime, Jiang said the Ministry of the Interior will continue reviewing land development and expropriation plans on the basis of fairness, justice and public interest. (JSM)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw