All Kampung Buah Pala residents have agreed to move out of their village in a week after accepting a deal offered to them developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd.

Thomas Chan, the company's director, said 1,400 sq ft double-storey terrace houses will be built on part of the acquired land as compensation to the village toll holders.

He said the land owner, Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang, brokered the deal with villagers, and Nusmetro had agreed to it.

NONE He told a press conference today that all the villagers have agreed to the deal and will move out in one week.

"We can finally concentrate on the property development," said Chan ( left ), heaving a sigh of relief that the contentious dispute which started in 2007 had been resolved.

The deal paves way for the lucrative Oasis project, comprising two blocks of condominiums and low medium flats, totalling 799 units to begin without hindrance.

By 2011, condos worth a minimum RM240,000 would finally stand tall on the land, which the residents fought hard to preserve as an Indian heritage village in Penang.

Newly re-designed project plan

Chan said thus far 22 toll holders have signed the offer letters while the remaining 11 villagers were expected to sign up in few days.

"I can say this would be my last press conference on the High Chaparral saga. I think we will have peaceful vacant possession of the land this time around," said Chan.

NONE When asked about the cattles in cattle farm in the village, Chan said the cattle breeder would have to find his own solution to end his predicament.

He said that the company would submit a newly re-designed project plan for the state government's approval once the villagers have moved out.

He said he was satisfied with the demolition that took place yesterday, where three vacant houses and small portion of another house with occupants were demolished.

In the commotion, police detained 18 people including village lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira, former PJ municipal councilor A Thiruvenggadam and three women.

They were all later released on police bail several hours later.