The Maldives Local Council Association (MLCA) has issued a resolution opposing the ratification of the Urban Planning and Management Bill.
According to the MLCA resolution, the government's promise to seek the participation of the people and councils has been overshadowed by the isolation of technical experts in drafting the bill.
“While this Act will have a negative impact on the governance of local councils that represent and serve the people most closely, these changes create the risk of losing the opportunity to plan and organize community resources in the most beneficial way for the community,” it said.
The resolution also said that the Parliament had not taken into consideration the views submitted by the relevant parties during the short consultation phase.
MLCA further said the new law gives a minister the power to erase the jurisdiction of councils without the consent of the community.
It also accused central governments of selling natural resources without the consent of the communities and giving power over these resources to a minister.
"With the creation of such laws, investments and plans decided by a minister in the name of development has not benefited the people so far and the history of Maldives shows that the biggest thefts and frauds have been committed through things done without the involvement of the people," it stated.
The resolution further called for the law to be revised and said the association would continue to advocate against it.
