KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says the Commission for Prevention of Land Grabbing has identified more than 1.1 million jeribs of public pastureland in nine districts of northern Balkh province.
In a statement, the ministry said the pasturelands are located in the districts of Nahr-i-Shahi, Dehdadi, Marmal, Balkh, Sholgara, Chamtal, Chahar Bolak, Keshendeh and Koh Alborz.
It said the grazing lands were assessed by a delegated team of the Commission for Prevention of Land Grabbing and Restitution of Grabbed Land and were subsequently recognised and registered in the national land bank following the commission’s decision.
The statement added that around 80 percent of the identified pastureland, amounting to more than 890,000 jeribs, remains in its original grazing condition.
However, the remaining 20 percent has lost its natural state and has been converted by residents into rain-fed and irrigated agricultural land, residential housing, or other forms of use.
The statement noted that, under Article 13 of the Law on Prevention of Land Grabbing and Restitution of Grabbed Land, encroachment on public pastureland, conversion of grazing areas into agricultural land, construction of shelters or houses and any other form of occupation of rangelands are prohibited.
The ministry said the pasture survey and assessment team has been tasked with finding solutions, in accordance with relevant procedures, for grazing lands that have lost their natural status.
It added that the survey and assessment team, appointed by the commission, is also reviewing pasturelands in other provinces and that the identified areas will be registered in the land bank once the assessment and verification process is completed.
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