State Leases: Rent of State Land Costs 6% to 37% More Expensive

This, it says the Department of Housing and Lands, to reflect the value of the land market to these lands were leased at prices well below their real value. 

Clause 16 of the State Lands Act was amended in this regard to Parliament last month to allow entry into force of these new arrangements early this year. The increase reflected depends on the location and area of leased land. The revaluation was made recently by the evaluation department of the Ministry of Housing and Lands. These increases, however, are for industrial leases. 

In recent years, the government began to review its policy on the matter. And it has brought its fruits, since the income drawn by the state increased. "It is imperative that a judicious use and proper management of this scarce resource and value is maintained while ensuring at the same time there is a good return on the premium assets," said the Minister had guardianship, Abu Kasenally, most recently in the National Assembly. 

Last year, the government posted a revenue of Rs 720 million for the lease of state land. According to forecasts of Ministry of Finance, the leasing of sites for camps should bring in Rs 525 million this year against Rs 585 million last year. Other locations of state land should enable authorities to Rs 640 million in their coffers. 

The new cadastre will be put into operation very soon, with the operationalization of Land Administration, Valuation and Information Management System (LAVIMS) , is expected to facilitate a land use in Mauritius, whether private or public. A Cadastre Implementation Unit has already been put into operation at the Ministry to maintain the cadastre.

Currently, 21 people from staff working there. This year, three apprentices 'surveyors' will be recruited and three apprentices cartographers. Besides better supervision of Lands, the Land Registry will expedite procedures that could sometimes last for weeks or months. Now it is matter of days. Fraudulent transactions will be more difficult to perpetrate.