This is neither the first time nor the last that we are writing about the issues related to the housing sector. There are hundreds of thousands of young and old people struggling with different housing problems, however there might be someone who would listen carefully and wisely and search in his file for solutions and not a new discussion on this very old issue.
Nobody can deny the government's efforts to support this sector by allocating hundreds of millions in the current five-year plan for this purpose. This reflects the government’s awareness of the problem, but it serves only a group of people while the problem is general in nature and a headache for the whole public.
What I mean here is, there should be a balance between allotting land plots and residential flats for citizens. Some people might propose such ideas, but the citizen will not accept the allotment of a flat instead of land because Omanis are used to living in big independent houses.
There is no harm in presenting such kind of ideas, but the time and situation have changed. At the Ministry of Housing there are hundreds of thousands of land applications and the number has increased since female citizens have been allowed to apply for land. Many years have passed and only a few plots have been granted to the general public; some of those who applied could be dead by now while others are still waiting. In fact, most of those who applied for land were females, some of whom are over their seventies.
In Muscat, the number is very large while the land is limited. Some are allocated for military authorities, like the area located on both sides of the Muscat Expressway from Al Ansab to the Rusayl Industrial Estate. From here the Housing Ministry can procure more lands for allotment to citizens, but even these areas are limited and most of them are almost occupied.
I believe there should be some balanced solutions on offer as a possible option for the youth to take advantage of, instead of making them wait for years. Maybe their dreams will come true and the ministry will set up residential blocks with multiple storey buildings. Otherwise, we would have to wait to get the necessary services and facilities such as water and electricity in some remote residential areas like those in mountainous destinations and this might take years.
The government has yet to find a solution that could offer an apartment instead of land plots as one of the possible alternatives for people. This could be acceptable for some who believe in the saying: "A bird in hand is better than ten on the tree". Accepting this offer is better than waiting for years to get the land and then waiting for a couple of years more in order to be able to build a house on it and some more years for the allocation of electricity and water. In a country with high population like Egypt, finding an apartment was a joke, as presented in their stage and cinema, however, it was taken seriously, albeit the complaints by the past government. Accordingly, the problem of getting an apartment for Egyptians was not a problem anymore as the government offered new residential blocks where people could buy a flat through easy monthly instalments.
Through this strategy many areas have been modernised and the population density in big towns which were suffering of high residential density became low. Let’s give our youth some options. Once a place for residence is offered, emotional and psychological stability could be guaranteed. In fact, the expenses and charges for the residence is almost half of the salary of an individual, if not even more than that.
Bukha (social development houses) in Musandam.