Amendments to combat illegal land use pass legislature

• By Esme Yeh / Staff reporter

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Newly passed amendments to regulations on the utilization of farmland and slopeland are aimed to combat illegal land development, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday.

The Legislative Yuan on Friday passed the third reading of amendments to the Agricultural Development Act (農業發展條例), the Soil and Water Conservation Act (水土保持法), and the Act for the Utilization and Transfer of Reserved Mountainous Land (山坡地保育利用條例).

The ministry said that the amendments increased penalties for illegal agricultural land filling and illegal hillside development, as well as including wildlife-related crop losses in the scope of government relief.

An aerial view shows illegal land clearing in a hillside conservation area in Miaoli County’s Towu Township in an undated photograph.

Photo copied by Peng Chien-li, Taipei Times

According to amendments to articles 10 and 69 of the Agricultural Development Act, illegal filling or dumping on farmland could be fined up to NT$3 million (US$92,370), it said.

Amendments to Article 60 include crop damage caused by wildlife in the scope of cash relief, subsidies or low-interest loans from the government, the ministry said, adding that it would further formulate relief measures.

According to amendments to the Soil and Water Conservation Act, unauthorized hillside land use or development that causes soil erosion or damage to soil and water conservation could be given a maximum jail term of five years with a fine of NT$25 million.

In scenarios where the violation resulted in death or severe injury, the maximum fines have been raised to NT$100 million from NT$1 million and to NT$80 million from NT$800,000.

Those who fail to make improvements for their violation of soil and water conservation regulations could be fined up to NT$3 million, up from NT$60,000.

The amendments are expected to enhance law enforcement efficiency, the ministry said.