Land sits idle in W. Nusa Tenggara

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Alrasyid threatened to give away some 28,786 hectares of idle land to the public if the owners failed to make use of it.

The 28,786 hectares include several properties belonging to conglomerates and children of former president Soeharto, according to the administration's data.

About 635 hectares of the plot were put to use by locals.

Investors reportedly planned to develop an amusement center and agricultural business, Tjahjana M. Ruchjat, head of the province's National Land Agency, said.

"There must be a way to utilize this land. The landowner could compromise by letting the people use it for some kind of business," Governor Harun said. Agricultural development would be a good idea, he added. (49/edt)