Muscat: More than 300 residents of the Fatah and Wisad areas of Bausher province gathered at the Ministry of Housing on Monday to demand plots of land.
The Muscat Primary Court had ruled five years ago that the residents of Fatah and Wisad should be given priority to obtain land plots in their areas. According to Omani law, every national is entitled to obtain a free plot of land in his area of residence.
However, since the court issued the ruling, many residents say they have yet to receive their plots.
The gathering on Monday was the fourth time residents have gone to the Ministry of Housing, demanding their rights.
There is a shortage of plots of land in the Fatah and Wisad areas as many plots were distributed to Omanis living outside the area.
It cost at least 70,000 Omani rials (Dh664,719) to obtain a plot in the Bausher province of the Muscat governorate.The Ministry of Housing distributes only 2,000 plots in Muscat annually. At this rate, it would take 60 years to issue permits to all applicants.
The government has announced plans to level mountains on the outskirts of the capital to make room for an additional 86,000 plots in order to better meet the shortage.
In May, the government announced a large-scale construction plan to provide affordable housing to Omani nationals across the country.
