No land around strategically important
deposits such as Oyu Tolgoi, Tavan Tolgoi, and Khushuut will be allowed to be
in private hands. Prime Minister S. Batbold has issued an order to this effect
after studying a report prepared by the Ministry of Road, Transportation, and
Urban Development.

The Minister, 
Kh. Battulga, has said the decision will make some 37,000 hectares of
land near strategic deposits specially protected areas. Expansion of mining
operations means a lot of land will be necessary to build long-term human
settlements. The ordinance aims at preventing people who were allocated land in
the areas, or those who have bought those lands from them, from looking for
deals.

Asked what will happen to business
enterprises, mining companies or others, who have acquired permission to
construct something on land they own in the area, Battulga said there were only
two or three such cases. The permission will be rescinded and there will be no
compensation.