Local Government Authority (LGA) has set November 30 as the deadline for local councils to formulate development plans.
As per the Decentralisation Act, newly elected local councils are required to formulate their development plans for their islands within 3 months after assuming office. The development plans are required to be formulated with input from the general public and the relevant authorities and institutions on the island. However, several councils have faced difficulties in meeting the public to finalise the development plans, due to the COVID-19 situation in the country.
In a letter sent to all local councils on August 12, LGA acknowledged the difficulties faced in meeting the public and working on the development plans due to the restrictions imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Noting the deadline given by law for the development plans is fast approaching, LGA said it has decided to extend the deadline until November following discussions with the Decentralisation Committee of the Parliament of the Maldives. LGA said the information collected by the authority to assess the performance of local councils will be based on the plans formulated by the councils by November 30.
As per the Decentralisation Act, local councils are supposed to submit their land use plans and development plans by August 17. However, several councils have not been able to carry out their work within the given timeframe due to COVID-19 restrictions.