Committee sets 5-day deadline to complete review of council land bill

Parliament's Decentralisation Committee on Tuesday decided to complete its review within five days of a bill that would allow the central government to take over land and property under the jurisdiction of local councils.

The bill to amend the Decentralisation Act was introduced to Parliament last Wednesday by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, an independent member who supports government policies.

Debate on the bill began on Monday and was concluded on the same day. Parliament then voted to accept the bill and forwarded it to the Decentralisation Committee for review.

At a committee meeting on Tuesday, Kolamaafushi MP Ibrahim Didi of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) proposed completing work on the bill within five days.

Under his proposal, the public will be given two days to submit complaints, comments and other views on the bill, with the consultation period closing at 2pm on Thursday.

The committee would then complete its report on the legislation by 12pm on Sunday.

Dheedhoo's proposal was seconded by Vilufushi MP Hassan Waheed of the PNC and received six votes.

In addition to Didi and Waheed, Bileddhoo MP Ahmed Aslam, Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Sauda, Henveiru Uthuru MP Ahmed Aifan and Ungoofaaru MP Ibrahim Shifaz voted in favour of the proposal.

Keyodhoo MP Mohamed Niushad of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) proposed giving the committee until 30 September to complete its work.

Niushad also proposed summoning representatives of the Local Government Authority (LGA), the Local Councils Association and political parties to obtain their views before completing the committee's review.

His proposal received support from Addu Hithadhoo Uthuru MP Abdulla Sodiq of the MDP and Addu Meedhoo MP Abdul Rahman.

The bill proposes giving the Cabinet authority to remove land and property from a council's jurisdiction for government development projects. Once such a decision is communicated to a council through the relevant national authority, the property would cease to fall under the council's authority and come under the state.

The legislation has drawn opposition from the MDP and members of the public, while an e-petition calling for its withdrawal is collecting signatures.

More than 1,200 people have signed the petition so far. Under Parliament's e-petition rules, a petition reaching 840 signatures must be forwarded to the relevant state authorities. If it receives at least 2,100 signatures, the matter must also be debated on the floor of Parliament.

The amendment comes after local council elections in April, in which the opposition MDP secured seats across the country's cities and several island councils.

Hannan, who introduced the Decentralisation Act amendment, also previously submitted legislation concerning regulation of the media. Although that legislation was not introduced as a government bill, it was passed by Parliament and later ratified by President Mohamed Muizzu.