Minister Haidar has said that the main purpose of creating urban centres is to promote urbanization, with those in islands with smaller populations moving to urban centres.
Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed has said that the main purpose of creating urban centres is to promote urbanization, with those in islands with smaller populations moving to urban centres. The target is to have a minimum population of 10,000 in each urban centre, he said.
Speaking in a programme on State TV last night, Haidar said that urbanization is the only way to bring development in the Maldives.
He said that smaller islands are increasingly facing challenges with climate change, and citizens can have safe lives through creating environmentally friendly islands.
Haidar said that the urban centres had been designated with minimum populations of 10,000 in mind. If the population is higher than this, than the services available will also increase to match this, he said.
"Unless we design it to be spread across the country, if the distance between two urban centres are too low, then how will it be decided which urban centre to seek a service from? Or it will be difficult to decide which place to move to. This is why we have spread seven urban centres across the country."
"If people reside on the main island, then there will no longer be a need to travel to seek services. Urbanization of population and development is to have people from smaller islands move to urban centres," he said.
The designated islands which will be developed as urban centres are;
- Raa atoll Ungoofaaru
- Baa atoll Eydhafushi
- Lhaviyani atoll Naifaru
- Alif Dhaalu atoll Mahibadhoo
- Faafu atoll Nilandhoo
- Dhaalu atoll Kudahuvadhoo
- Laamu atoll Fonadhoo
The Minister assured that the urban centres will prove to be safe environments for residents, and assured that higher education, as well as vast opportunities in health services and business ventures will be available there.
Haidar said that the urban centres have been decided after considering the investments already made on the selected islands.
In addition to health and education services, and infrastructural development, it was also taken into consideration how much more the island can be expanded through reclamation after surveying if there are lagoons close to the island.
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