The Russian government started a program on Wednesday to allow local residents to lease land for free in the Far East, local authorities announced.

People living in the Khanka area, located in the northwestern part of Primorsky region and bordering Lake Khanka, will be the first to benefit from the program, the local administration said on its official website.

The program will be expanded on Oct. 1 this year to allow all residents of the Far East to lease one hectare of land per head for free.

The program will be further expanded to cover all residents of the Russian Federation in February 2017, authorities said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill into law in early May that allows citizens to lease land for free for up to five years in the Far East to attract more settlers. The leased land will become private property if it is proved to have been developed after five years of use. Otherwise it will be returned to the Russian government.

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