Gov't sends land consolidation bill to parliament for 2nd reading

The Croatian government on Thursday sent a bill on farmland consolidation to parliament for a second reading and changed a programme for the energy upgrading of family houses.

Farmland consolidation, which has not been conducted in Croatia for 25 years, is regulated by a law that was last amended in 1987, said Agriculture Minister Tihomir Jakovina.

Since a prevailing number of farmland plots in Croatia are small in size, they need to be consolidated and the economic efficiency of agricultural production needs to be increased, which requires a new law on farmland consolidation, said the minister.

Under the bill, land consolidation would be carried out in line with five-year programmes, adopted by the parliament, and annual programmes, adopted by the government.

The bill now envisages a new deadline for cadastres and competent courts to implement valid decisions on farmland consolidation, which has been shortened from one year to six months.

According to data from the Surveyor's Office, 822,704 hectares of farmland have been covered by farmland consolidation so far.

According to preliminary estimates accompanying the bill, around 280,000 hectares of farmland are to be covered by land consolidation, a project to cost HRK 840 million.

A total of 90,000 hectares of farmland are to be consolidated in the first, six-year period, from 2015 to 2020, which is expected to cost HRK 270 million or HRK 45 million annually.

Along with budget funds, money for land consolidation would also be ensured from EU funds.

The government also changed its decision on a programme for the energy upgrading of family houses for the period from 2014 to 2020.

Construction and Physical Planning Minister Anka Mrak Taritas said that most of the 950,000 family houses in Croatia were in a very poor state in terms of energy efficiency.

The initial programme for their energy upgrading, adopted a year ago, was changed today to simplify the procedure of applying for energy upgrading.

Those interested in the energy upgrading of their houses will now also be able to apply directly to the Fund for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection for funds intended for the co-financing of energy upgrading.

It has turned out that local self-government units have not been doing their job in that process, said Mrak Taritas.

She said the Fund had HRK 71 million for energy upgrading in 2015, which was enough for the energy upgrading of 10,000 family houses.

(Hina) rml

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