MUSCAT — The Majlis Ash’shura continued for the second consecutive day running discussions with Shaikh Saif bin Mohammad al Shabibi, Minister of Housing, in its 18th session of the first annual sitting (2011- 2012) of the 7th term under the chairmanship of Khalid bin Hilal al Ma’awali, Chairman of the Majlis.
The Majlis yesterday continued the rest of the questions and deliberations made by members of the Majlis on various themes of the ministerial statement, especially regarding urban plans of the ministry and the challenges it faced, particularly those related to providing services in these new residential locations, mechanisms and conditions of distributing land plots for various uses, claims to ownership of granted governmental agricultural land plots, the right of access to land and the grounds and conditions of extension and aspects of social housing, housing loans and aids.
During the meeting, a presentation was shown by the Housing Ministry about Al Batinah coastal road project, tracks, actions and procedures that have been completed in this regard and how the ministry is dealing with various aspects of the project.
The Majlis members, particularly members of the Governorates of South and North Al Batinah, raised many questions and comments about the project, especially with regard to economic and social goals 
and visions (planned and expected) from the project, land plots and sites affected by the course of the project and how the ministry is dealing with them, financial and in-kind compensation granted to citizens affected by the project, mechanisms and considerations followed by the ministry in question of compensation, and the status of new residential areas provided to citizens affected by the project, their locations and availability of services and other related topics.
The Majlis Ash’shura will continue its meeting today by holding its 19th session, which will be allocated for the discussion of a number of topics on its agenda, the foremost of which is the Majlis bylaw and reports by its standing committees on various topics. — ONA
