Governors in the “eye of the cyclone” owing to thousands of vacant plots of land

The vexed issue of vacant plots of land and phantom real estate suitable for construction registered in several provinces of Algeria has floated to the surface anew, and has remained so far unresolved, amid the authorities’ dismal failure to put an end to the chaotic building of new housing by numerous ill-advised people not abiding by the set construction norms and regulations.

MP Hassan Aribi, a member of the National Defense Commission of the national people’s Assembly asked an oral question to the Interior Minister Noureddine Badaoui, concerning delays recorded in the settlement of the plots of land suitable for construction, and the problem of illusionary buildings and shanty dwellings, as the situation has now worsened on the ground with the authorities concerned not taking remedial measures to this effect for several years now.

According to the MP, the Interior Ministry must take the necessary steps as early as possible to straighten out this bleak situation which has turned many urban areas of the country into shanty and bungalow-like cities not tallying with the basic and modern construction standards.

He further affirmed that despite the recent decision taken by the Government to expedite the distribution of plots of land suitable for construction in a bid to cope with the housing crisis, the operation has witnessed a huge delay due to the hovering fear of violent street protests during the distribution process, and this lapse is considered as contrary to the firm instructions issued in this regard.