Parliament resolution warns govt repossession of 14 Male’ lands could block council’s public-benefit initiatives

A lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted a resolution to the Parliament, warning that the decision by the central government to repossess 14 plots of land currently under the jurisdiction of the Male’ City Council curtails the council’s powers, rendering it unable to carry out initiatives that benefit the public.

The resolution, submitted by South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem on August 20, was introduced at Wednesday’s sitting.

On October 15, the Housing Ministry announced that 14 prominent locations in the Male’ area, including the Fish Market, Sultan Park and the Alimas Carnival area, would be transferred from the city council to the central government.

In his resolution, Meekail expressed concern that the move was made without any prior warning or discussion with the city council, and without following the legal procedures required under the Decentralization Act.

Meekail said the 14 lands and properties in question were listed as key sources of income in the council’s budget, used to fund the management of mosques and cover administrative expenses.

He said that the repossession of the lands will deprive the council of key sources of income.

Meekail also noted that the decision comes as the city council formulates multiple plans and developmental projects that are of immense benefit to the public, including initiatives to develop parking buildings, public parks and other public spaces to ease the congestion in the populous Maldivian capital.

He said the decision could therefore cause massive damage to the council as well as the general public.

Meekail described the decision of the central government as one that could undermine the system of decentralization and curtail the council’s powers.

He asked for the Parliament to discuss the issue and reach a consensus.

The 14 lands and properties being repossessed are:

1. Sultan Park/Museum (to develop an e-sporting arena and museum park)
2. Rasfannu Artificial Beach (no plans)
3. Area reclaimed for fish market (for Male’ Wet Market Complex)
4. Thaisey Koshi (as temporary worksite for Male’ infrastructure development project)
5. Fish Market (for an office and commercial building)
6. Fishermen's Square (for a pump station)
7. Local Market (for a mixed-use commercial building)
8. Alimas Carnival (for recreation and commercial building)
9. Henveiru Artificial Beach (for upgrade and additions)
10. Pay Toilet No. 2 (For a public restroom and additional facilities)
11. Land that previously housed Villa Hakatha's petrol shed and is currently used by council to store plants (to develop an electric vehicle charging station)
12. Bondibaiy Park (a parking building and a mixed-used commercial building)
13. Land allocated for the National Library (children's activity center and daycare center)
14. Male’ City Council’s accommodation land (Labor Relations’ accommodation)

The Male’ City Council filed for an injunction with the Civil Court earlier on Wednesday, seeking to block the repossession of the lands.

At a city council meeting on Wednesday morning, Deputy Mayor Mekhael Mohamed Riyaz said that the council has asked for, but has yet to receive any details regarding the developmental projects sited as the reason for the repossession of the lands.

Mekhael added that though the central government has invited the council to submit objections or comments before the transfer, the council can only respond meaningfully if given specific information about the proposed projects.

Taking over land and lagoons under the jurisdiction of local councils had previously required a presidential decree.

But a contentious amendment to the Decentralization Act that took effect in September granted the central government greater powers to seize land under the jurisdiction of local council

According to the amendment, land and lagoons will be removed from the jurisdiction of councils and transferred under the full control of the state once the cabinet makes such decisions, and the Local Government informs councils of it.

It also states that councils will be required to hand over land to the LGA upon request of the central government when seeking land to run projects.

The bill is also designed to prohibit councilors from acting, without a justifiable reason, in a manner that hinders planned government projects, or making any decision that could obstruct such projects.

The amendment followed complaints from top government officials over lack of cooperation from some councils for planned projects, including refusal to hand over land.

It also followed controversial amendments to the Decentralization Act last year that curtailed the power of councils to recruit new staff and lease land, lagoons and reefs under their jurisdiction close to council elections.