The Local Government Authority (LGA) will be seeking financial assistance from India in preparing land use plans for local councils.
According to the Decentralization Act, councils are required to prepare and submit land use plans within three months of taking the oath. While the law specifies how the work must be carried out, LGA granted three additional months to complete the plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many councils failed to submit the plan within the new deadline given by the LGA.
According to LGA, the land use plans of 44 islands are still pending. There are also issues with some of the plans submitted by councils.
LGA said it had applied to the Indian High Commission in the Maldives seeking financial and technical assistance to prepare the land use plans, as the Maldives lacked an adequate number of technical experts in the field. LGA said it was hopeful of receiving India's assistance.
The current administration has made many amendments to the Decentralization Act to give greater powers to local councils.
