Decentralization becoming a question of regional superiority

As an immediate measure to facilitate easy administration and to involve more people in the government, MDP led coalition split the country into six regional zones managerially headed by six state ministers. Addu atoll and Fuvahmulak zone is among the six zones and has become the apple of discord for the new government. According to government, decentralization provides the local government with much authority and opportunity to make decisions removing sluggish administrative obstacles. In today’s world, major developed countries practice decentralization as part of the democratic tool to boost the productivity of the local area or city.
Some people of Fuvahmulak are suspicious of their population becoming vulnerable before Addu if they agree on government’s plan to become partners in development with the people of Addu. They think Addu being so populous in the nation, minority’s voice will not reach out to the main government. However, Fuvahmulak’s appeal for the government then and now to develop an international airport and a commercial docking port could be disastrous for the atoll in future. At a time when the government is running with billions of rufiyaa’s deficit budget, how rational are Fuvahmulak’s dream to develop an international airport. Questions regarding the feasibility of such a project show shear depression.
Economically Fuvahmulak will benefit from the proposed infrastructure in the short run. However as the population grow over the ages shortage of land could become fatal for them. Reclamation of their sea is limited and almost impossible. Any effort to settle down in the center of the atoll might not work out due to lower level of ground. According to various sources it would have been better had Fuvahmulak people demanded for a seaplane between Gan and Fuvahmulak. Developing and maintaining an airport will incur greater cost than going for a seaplane with limited staff in it. A cargo carrier should have been scheduled to carry goods from regional dock in Hithadhoo to Fuvahmulak. Certainly half the proposed government expenditure would be reduced.
If the government pursue with the proposed projects by Fuvahmulak, which do have viable alternatives, will increase the pressure on the ruling party to provide same facilities to all the islands or atolls that have similar difficulties. Now the question is how many big islands or atolls are waiting for the same facilities from the government.

Posted by Hulhudhoo Today on 2:58 AM. Filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Feel free to leave a response