Malé City Council resolution warns State land grab will cripple public projects

A resolution submitted to the People's Majlis warns that the Malé City Council's ability to implement projects benefiting the public will be severely hampered if 14 lands, including the fish market, Sultan Park, and Kanivaa area, are transferred to State control. The resolution, submitted by MDP Member for Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll constituency Meekail Ahmed Naseem, states that the 14 lands were taken from the Council's jurisdiction by the State without any consultation. The State considers these lands necessary for urban development works and infrastructure services required for the development of Malé and Vilimalé. According to the resolution, these 14 lands are currently designated as sources of revenue for the Council's budget. The income generated from these lands is specifically allocated for maintaining mosques and covering the administrative expenses of the Council. The resolution argues that the financial benefits received by the Council would be lost if these lands are taken. The resolution highlights that the Ministry of Housing decided to take these lands to develop projects such as parking structures, comfortable scales (weighbridges), and vacant spaces, while the Council was preparing similar projects. It states this government decision will cause significant harm to the residents of Malé. The lands to be taken from under the Council's control by the State include: Sultan Park and National Museum, Fish Market, Area surrounding the Fish Market, Local Market, Building housing the accommodation for employees of the Malé City Council, Building operating the office of the Association of Businessmen, Kanivaa Area, Artificial Beach, Fishermen's Scales, Thaise Koshi, Kuli Fahanaa Number 2, Land used by the Council for storing trees and plants, Bondibath Park, and Rasfannu. Associated with the Ministry's decision, the Council has filed a case in the Civil Court today seeking to halt the transfer of these lands to the State. Deputy Meekail Muhammad Riyaaz, who presided over the Council's session today, stated that requests have been made to the authorities to share details of the development projects, but no information related to this matter has been received so far. He stated that objections or opinions should be submitted after knowing the detailed information of the projects decided to be implemented on those lands. Amendments were made to the decentralization law and implementation began starting from last September, allowing the government to take certain areas out of the jurisdiction of councils and islands into the government's control for the purpose of implementing development projects.