Pres says budget omitted funds to complete ongoing projects
The President said on Sunday that his policy is to serve the people without discrimination.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
President Mohammed Muizzu has condemned the opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), which has a majority in parliament, for the failure of projects in the Atolls because there is not enough money allocated in the budget to implement and complete the projects.
On his visit to the northern islands on Sunday, the President said that every year the budget includes an adequate amount of money to complete developmental projects that have been started. However, the budget proposed by the MDP government and passed by the party's majority in parliament had omitted it, he said.
"This year, when the budget was passed, it was not us who made the budget. At the time [the budget] was passed, the budget did not include the funds to complete ongoing projects. That's why most of the ongoing projects are yet to be completed," he said.
The President said he is trying to complete the projects despite the budget constraints.
The President said on Sunday that his policy is to serve the people without discrimination.
"As per my policy, I will not discriminate against any island, no matter how small or large in terms of population. No matter how cramped or spacious. I will continue [development] under the policy of serving without any discrimination," he said.
However, the President said whether projects start or not depends on the amount of revenue received by the government.
"You know our economy, the state it was in when we took over. So we are managing the economy, cutting down on expenditure and increasing revenue," he said.
The President said that some projects are difficult to carry out due to lack of funds in the budget. The budget of about MVR 50 billion approved by the Parliament for this year was prepared by the previous government. However, it was said then that the budget allowed room for projects required by the new government.
One of the biggest projects of the current government, the Fushidhiggaru lagoon reclamation project, had been dropped from the budget. The funds allocated for the project have been distributed among the projects initiated by the previous government to provide housing in the Male area.
