Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has assured that the land-use plan has been approved for many islands, with only a minority remaining pending approval. This statement was made during a media address providing insight into the details of works and projects carried out by the ministry.
The decentralisation act mandates councils to prepare a land-use plan. According to the law, island councils should prepare a land-use plan within three months following the election of council members, based on areas of development and assistance required by atoll councils. However, two years after the election of council members, the majority have not submitted a land-use plan, with only a few islands having plans approved when the term for the previous government ended.
Minister Adam Shareef emphasised that the delay in approving land-use plans has been a significant concern raised by councils, hindering the progress of development. To address this concern, a government online portal was launched in January 2024 to expedite the approval process. The portal allows for the online submission of land-use plans and requests for changes to previous plans. Additionally, the status of plans can be reviewed online through the portal.
The minister noted that this initiative has enabled many councils to obtain approval for their plans effortlessly. Plans can now be approved within a week, provided there are no issues, marking a significant advancement compared to the months it previously took to obtain approval.
Land-use plans can be implemented after acceptance from gatherings with residents of the respective island following government approval. The ministry reported that 139 land-use plans have been approved to date, with 21 plans in the process of approval.
The Local Government Authority (:GA) has been providing assistance in developing land-use plans, primarily through funds. It assured that plans would be approved for all islands in the nation in the near future. The primary purpose of such plans is to allocate land for social and economic purposes, including housing projects, social services, and economic activities.