In his weekly radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has discussed the importance of land use planning for a sustainable economy. He said to make the best use of land, land use planning which took into account everyone’s interests was needed.
Noting that land was one of the most important assets of the country, the President said one of the purposes of a land use plan was to facilitate housing opportunities for all citizens.
Other purposes of land use planning were to provide equal economic opportunities and minimise negative impacts on the environment and the people, he added.
In his radio address, the President also spoke on how land was historically used in the Maldives. He also discussed several provisions of the Maldives Land Act which was passed in 2002.
Stressing the need to identify better economic uses of the sandbanks near resort islands, the President said “the government will in the neat future create a register of all the sandbanks and small islands”.
Outlining some of the works that the government was doing toward land use planning and challenges, the President said the unused or abandoned land in the islands posed difficulties.
The President continued, “There are grievances because while some reclaim vast swaths of land and exploit them for economic benefits, the state or the public do not get due profits.” He added it was important to include all such issues in the plan.
President Nasheed stated that the Cabinet was working on a framework on land, in light of relevant laws, regulations, and other historical documents.
“The aim is to pave the way for equitable and economically profitable use of land for all citizens.

A Maldivian was detained in Thirivananthapuram, India, suspected for terrorist connections, Indian media has reported.
Abdul Aleem, 28, was detained by the city police on Wednesday morning following an input from the Intelligence Bureau. It is learnt that there is a look-out-notice of the Interpol was pending against him. He would be deported to Male on Thursday morning since he was not involved in any cases here, said sources.
Officials of the IB, RAW and State Intelligence wing quizzed him for several hours in order to examine whether he was involved in any anti-national activities here. However, no information could be obtained from him. He is suspected to be involved in cases pertaining to anti-national activities in Male, said sources Aleem is said to be in Thiruvananthapuram since June 2009 along with his family, including wife. They were residing at a portion of a multi-storied house at Kallatumukku near Manacaud on rent. He had come on student visa and was undergoing a course at a leading multi-media institution in a leading private institute in the city.
Police sources said that his family members were holding valid tourist visas and hence they would not be deported.
Meanwhile, the city police have noticed that the owner of the house in which Aleem was staying had not submitted the mandatory Cform.
Hence a case would be registered against the house owner, said sources.