A motion by Opposition SODELPA MP Jiosefa Dulakiverata to reduce the budget allocation of $37.5 million for the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources was defeated through a show of hands in Parliament yesterday.

The reason for the motion was to delete an allocation of $30,000 for maintenance of existing subdivisions listed under the ministry’s budget provisions.

Speaking on his motion, Mr Dulakiverata said the maintenance of existing subdivisions should be handled by local municipalities.

The municipalities, he said, were responsible for the maintenance of drains and other amenities within these subdivisions, adding that it shouldn’t come under the responsibility of the ministry.

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Faiyaz Koya said Mr Dulakiverata should know that not all subdivisions were located within municipal areas and not all had been returned.

“There subdivisions were outside the municipal area,” he said.

“So this particular provision has been allocated for those.”

Speaking on the allocation of $80,000 on a land harmonisation exercise, Mr Koya explained that it would be used to harmonise land data on the system with what was on the ground.

Questions were also raised on an allocation of $55,000 as administration costs for lease backlogs.

Mr Koya said it would be used to clear all lease backlogs within the first and second quarter of next year.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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