Government Cuts MVR 74 Million Owed to Male' City Council, Mayor Says

Male' City Mayor Adam Azim says the Finance Ministry has cut a total of MVR 74 million from the block grant owed to the Male' City Council over the past three months, warning that the move will disrupt services provided to residents. Speaking at an official council meeting on Wednesday, Mayor Azim said the cuts were made directly from the council's budget and that the council would continue its work within the available funds. "When the budget is being cut, within the last three months they have cut 74 million rufiyaa from our budget," he said. "As a council providing major services to the people, this is a direct imposition on the people." The Mayor also said the government has been making it difficult for the council to recruit staff, adding that the obstacles began as the council was working to hire capable people. "We are finding it difficult to work because they are placing difficulties on recruiting staff and on all these things," he said. According to the council, the block grant was cut after the council owed money to WAMCO, the state-owned waste management company. The council has also sent a letter to Finance Minister Hassan Zareer warning that the cuts would make it difficult to pay staff salaries and provide services to residents. In addition, the Mayor said the government has taken over 14 income-generating lands from the council and has decided that vehicle fees, which provided revenue to the council, will no longer go to the council. The regulations have been amended and the decision is being implemented. Male' City, home to 42 percent of the Maldives' population, depends on the city council for municipal services.