The Local Government Authority (LGA) has discussed accepting financial assistance from India to solve the difficulties faced by local councils in their work to complete the land-use plans for the islands under the Decentralisation Act.
Local councils were required to complete land-use plans by November 30, last year, but many councils have been unable to complete the land-use plan for their administrative island after they failed to find a contractor to undertake the work, or the contractors they hired neglected to complete the work.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LGA Fathimath Afshan Latheef said the main challenges faced by local councils are financial issues, and that the Indian High Commission in the Maldives has assured it will provide technical assistance to the councils. She said the land-use plans for 44 islands have been left uncompleted due to the lack of technical expertise but that LGA will continue to prioritise hiring Maldivians for the work.
LGA is currently working to seek foreign financial assistance to complete the land-use plans quickly, as they are tied to the development work of the islands. A land-use plan is a developmental plan regulating the use of unused and reclaimed land on islands in an effort to promote beneficial and efficient land usage. Land-use plans are formulated by the island councils in consultation with the community, to assist island councils to manage land strategically and develop a budget for developmental activities under the jurisdiction of the councils.