Govt watchdog finds ‘irregular’ land-grabs in Colombia’s eastern savannas
Govt watchdog finds ‘irregular’ land-grabs in Colombia’s eastern savannas
Aug 5, 2014 posted by Victoria McKenzie
Large-scale misallocations of Colombia’s “forgotten territories” have caught the attention of the National Comptroller, who may levy millions in fines after an audit of the Colombian Institute for Rural Development (Incoder), according to a press release Monday.
The government agency in charge of rural land management could be fined nearly $8 million for its oversight in the “unusual” appropriation and accumulation of unoccupied state territories located in the eastern plains of Vichada, Meta, and Casanare.
According to the Comptroller General’s report, over 250,000 acres were obtained illegally by individuals or companies.
Incoder, created in 2003 as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is officially intended to “facilitate access of rural communities to production factors and public goods, helping to improve their quality of life.”
More:
http://colombiareports.co/comptroller-finds-illegal-land-grabs-colombias-forgotten-territories/
