Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has revealed that land-use plans have been submitted for 60 islands and that 13 of the plans have been approved.
The local councils are required to prepare and submit land-use plans within three months of taking the oath, according to the Decentralisation Act. However, many local councils have found it difficult to formulate their land-use plans. At the Viavathi Raajje conference, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam addressed the issues in proposing the land-use plans and provided solutions, including giving leeway in formulating the plans.
Minister of State for the Planning Ministry Akram Kamaluddeen said that land-use plans have been submitted for 60 islands so far and that 13 of the plans have been approved. He said the ministry will be holding meetings with local councils to discuss implementing solutions for the issues they have been facing in formulating their land-use plans, which include piloting drones to take photographs over 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. The 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.