CHAPTER 4
CLEARANCE
40. The Clearance sub-division of the Operations division of the Department is responsible for planning and executing the squatter clearance programme, together with the resettlement of the other categories of people eligible for resettlement.
PLANNING
41. Virtually all unleased Crown land in the urban area on which it is possible to build is occupied, mainly by residential squatters but also by small factories or workshops, illegal cultivators or pigbreeders. Before any development can take place, this land must be cleared of its occupants. When an area is required for development, the Public Works Department applies for clearance, indicating what the land is wanted for and the date for clearance and eventual development. The Resettle- ment Department is responsible for clearing the area of all structures and cultivation and for resettling all eligible persons, shops and factories found on the site.
42. When a clearance application is received, the Squatter Control sub-division verifies from its detailed records the number of domestic huts, shops, factories and other structures on the ground and for the information of the Clearance sub-division, estimates the area of cultiva- tion and the number of people involved. From this report the size of the clearance problem is determined and its priority fixed in relation to other outstanding applications and to the resettlement building programme.
43. The following factors are taken into account in deciding the priority and timing of a particular clearance:
The purpose for which the land is required
44. The highest priority is land required directly or indirectly for resettlement estates or other low-cost housing, partly on social grounds and partly because other forms of land development would be impossible if there were no resettlement estates in which to rehouse the squatters occupying the land. Water schemes, schools, hospitals and other public buildings or works are the next priority. Provision is also made for private commercial, residential and factory development in accordance with approved town plans.
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