Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Mohamed Muttalib has stated that while hundreds of millions of Rufiyaa are provided to councils from the state budget as block grants, they must fulfill their responsibilities. Minister Muttalib said this while responding to a question from the Member for Addu Maradhoo constituency, Ahmed Didi, during today's sitting of the People's Majlis.

Member Ahmed Didi questioned the Minister regarding the Addu Link Road project. Responding to the question, the Minister stated that maintaining the roads in the islands is not the responsibility of the Ministry. He further stated that it is the responsibility of the elected councils in the islands.

"It is not the responsibility of a government ministry to maintain and look after the roads in islands; that is the responsibility of the council elected in that island. When Addu City Council is given millions of Rufiyaa from the state budget, if there is no mechanism to fix the potholes on the road, I think the council has failed," the Minister said.

The Minister said that while millions of Rufiyaa are given to councils as block grants, the government is still expected to do the work even if a road is damaged.

"Even if a road is damaged, the state has to do it. What is the benefit of the state giving hundreds of millions of Rufiyaa to the council as block grants? Should the councils just remain as a group of people who talk to the citizens? What is being done with that money?"

Therefore, the Minister requested the Members of Parliament to hold the councils accountable.