The government on Wednesday removed 14 land plots, including Sultan Park, Rasfannu, and Thaisey Koshi, from the jurisdiction of the Male’ City Council.
The Housing Ministry issued a gazetted announcement confirming the removal of these lands. The announcement stated that the plots were reclaimed under recent amendments to the Decentralization Act passed by the government-controlled Parliament.
The Ministry cited Section 56-2 of the Decentralization Act, which stipulates that the Cabinet may decide to remove land from a council's jurisdiction if it is required for a development project.
The announcement outlined the government's development objectives for the lands removed from the City Council’s oversight today.
"[The lands were taken] to carry out urban development work required for the populations of Male’ and Villimale’, to provide infrastructure services, and to implement projects related to the essential development and maintenance of such services," the announcement read.
However, some of the plots removed from the council’s jurisdiction, including Rasfannu and Thaisey Koshi, currently have no active projects underway.
Land plots taken over by the government
- Sultan Park (an e-sporting arena and museum park)
- Rasfannu (no plans)
- Area reclaimed for fish market (wet market)
- Thaisey Koshi (a temporary accommodation block for workers)
- Fish Market (Office and Commercial Building)
- Fishermen's Square (a pump station / already exists)
- Local Market (Mixed Used Commercial Building)
- Carnival (recreation and commercial building)
- Artificial Beach (upgrade and additions)
- Pay Toilet No. 2 (Public Restroom and Additional Facilities)
- Petrol shed (an electric vehicle charging station) used by Villa Energy
- Bondibaiy Park (a parking building and a mixed used commercial building)
- Land given to the National Library (children's activity center and daycare center)
- City Council Accommodation Land (Labour Relations Accommodation)
Under the legislative changes, once the Cabinet decides to remove a land plot or site from a council's jurisdiction for government projects, it is officially stripped from the council's ownership. Such properties then fall under the full authority and control of the central government.
Furthermore, the law now mandates that land must be handed over to the government upon request for development projects, even before a local island's physical development plan has been finalized.
The public and opposition figures have voiced strong opposition to these changes, labeling the legislation the "Land Grabbing Bill." Critics argue that these amendments effectively dismantle the powers of the decentralization system.
