Minister for Local Government and Housing Parveen Bala has confirmed in parliament that residents of Clopcott Settlement in Ba will get 99 year leases by the end of this year.
Although NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad said that there are pending issues to be resolved, Bala said he knows that the members of the community are happy about the development.
Bala also says that it is obvious that they will follow all the planning requirements when questioned by opposition parliamentarian, Niko Nawaikula.
Bala also stressed that they have obtained the consent of the Itaukei landowners when asked by opposition MP, Aseri Radrodro.
The Local Government Minister says this is not about playing politics and the people living in Clopcott settlement will no longer be squatters as they will get the formalised leases later this year.
