(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Effective May 5, the Ministry of Housing has suspended processing of applications for extensions to buildings, increasing their height, getting plot allocations and land use changed until further notice.
Many property owners have been affected by the announcement, which the ministry on its website says has been made for an overall review to regulate land use and find residential, commercial and industrial schemes that will help in the country's overall development.
Ali al Qataan, a Dhofar resident, said his plans to get the land use status of his plot changed have been now put on hold. The government employee said, ''We were planning to use the plot owned by my wife for business. I was hoping to get a building constructed on the plot, but the announcement has ruined our plans. We do not know how long before the ministry begins looking into applications again.''
Humaid al Baraiqi, an IT programmer who is getting married soon, had planned to add two storeys to his Sohar house. ''All the formalities were complete and I was supposed to submit the papers by Sunday. This will affect my wedding plans; I possibly cannot marry until my house gets a new floor. The ministry says it (the suspension) is temporary, but it needs to give a time frame.''
The ministry gives the option to allocated plot holders to get the location changed, but this facility too has been suspended. Hassham al Lawati a private sector employee living in Muscat, wanted the allocation of his plot in Quriyat changed to Seeb. ''I have been allocated a plot beyond Massarah Hospital. It takes over an hour to reach there. I wanted an allocation in Seeb. I was planning to put in a request, but I guess I will be stuck with this land which is not of much use to me right now.'' The ministry has asked the public to keep checking its website for updates
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