-Visits Diamond Housing Scheme in wake of flooding
Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali Saturday said that his Ministry will be establishing a strong monitoring unit to ensure that persons who have been allotted house lots operate within the stipulated regulations. The Minister visited the Diamond Housing Scheme in response to reports of flooding and said that over the last year and a half, his Ministry has been taking aggressive steps to repossess land allocated to persons but remained unoccupied.
He explained that this inaction has led to vegetation overgrowth and non-maintenance of drains which contribute to the difficulties faced by residents and the Administration with respect to the management of drainage and irrigation systems.
The Ministry will be moving to clear drains in the area with its own resources. However, allotees will be surcharged for the works that will be done.
This step will be taken as a result of non-compliance and negligence by a number of allotees who have failed to begin or complete construction on the allocated lots.
“We cannot continue to expend resources without penalties to persons who continue to flout the regulations and cause difficulties as a result of their inaction,” Minister Ali said.
Prior to this step being taken, the Ministry had issued numerous advisories to persons who commenced and are in the process of construction with regard to the placing of building materials, which, over time, results in blocking the drainage systems.
The Minister said that another issue raised on several occasions was cattle roaming the area and trampling the shoulders of the earthen drains, leading to further difficulties for the drainage system.
The Housing Ministry will be collaborating with the Ministries of Home Affairs and Local Government and Regional Development, and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in implementing measures under the new Pounds Act. (GINA)