President Muizzu Ratifies Decentralization Act Amendment to Speed Up Public Projects

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified an amendment to the Decentralization Act, granting the central government expanded powers to fast-track the implementation of public infrastructure and development projects across the Maldives. The legislation, which passed through the Parliament on August 26, allows the Cabinet to remove specific plots of land or sites from the jurisdiction of local councils. This ensures that critical government-funded initiatives can proceed without the delays often associated with local administrative hurdles. Notably, the amendment empowers the state to reclaim land even before the official development plans for a specific city or island have been formally approved or implemented. To ensure a streamlined process, the law mandates that local councils provide full cooperation for projects deemed to be in the collective public interest. The legislation explicitly prohibits councils from obstructing such initiatives without reasonable cause or making decisions that could lead to project suspensions. Recognizing the need to protect local stakeholders, the Parliamentary Decentralization Committee integrated a safeguard during the legislative review process. The final law stipulates that any existing investments on land reclaimed by the state must be met with fair compensation, provided by the relevant government ministry. This legislative shift aims to resolve long-standing frictions between central government planning and local council authority, ensuring that essential infrastructure—ranging from harbors to healthcare facilities—can be delivered to island communities with greater efficiency.