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{
    "id": 661911,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/661911/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "those who will be affected eventually when investors come to the ground will have had their say before these agreements are ratified. So, at a later stage, I will urge the Mover to also include solar and wind as resources which require ratification because most of the northern parts of this country which are sparsely populated and have these resources are the next frontier for development, especially generation of renewable energy. All this needs to be taken into account so that the communities who in most cases are even not aware of all this will not be shortchanged and the resources will not be harnessed to their detriment. They should also be part of the beneficiaries when it comes to this. The same Clause 9 has clearly stated one of the things which need to be checked. These are benefits which the local community is likely to enjoy from the transaction. That is also part of the requirement for ratification. If those sources of energy or other natural resources are not included here, then that will be a leeway for those communities to be disinherited of their resources as we have already experienced in some cases. The Bill also gives a submission timetable, so that it does not take forever. If an investor commits himself to exploit a certain resource, they may wait for ratification to be done if there is no proper timetable. This Bill has given a timetable up to even when there will be mediation between the two Houses. So, it is a very clear provision so that investors will not be held down. We are trying to be an investor friendly country and attract investors. However, if we come up with laws like these which do not give a timetable, an investor will not be able to plan his or her programmes because resource exploitation requires a lot of finances and one needs to have a proper timetable. So, it is important that we have that part (iii) about the submission timetable. The other one is part (iv) which talks about transparency because we have the administrative arrangement which indicates that there will be a register somewhere. If one will be interested in exploitation of a natural resource somewhere, they can start from that register and check whether the area is already covered or if it has been taken. From there, one can now develop his or her plan because there is a point from where you can actually start, by checking whether there was any earlier arrangement on that particular resource. Therefore, I support this Bill. I hope that at the relevant stage, those two other natural resources; solar and wind, will be included so that the whole spectrum of the natural resources which now going forward will be part of the resources which will be exploited. We should ensure that other renewable sources of energy are also captured here and the interests of the community are also guarded. I thank you."
}