Committee extends review of council land reclamation bill

The Decentralisation Committee of the People's Majlis has extended the deadline for completing its review of proposed amendments to the Decentralisation Act that would grant the government authority to reclaim land and property under local council jurisdiction.

The committee had previously set Sunday as the deadline to finalise its work on the bill, which was submitted to Parliament on August 5.

The extension comes as an e-petition calling for the withdrawal of the bill has gathered enough signatures to qualify for debate in the Majlis. The Parliament's Petitions Committee is also scheduled to consider the matter.

During Sunday's committee meeting, Hassan Waheed, Member of Parliament for the Vilufushi constituency representing the People's National Congress (PNC), proposed extending the review period until Thursday.

The proposal was seconded by Henveiru North MP Ahmed Aifan and was approved unanimously by members present at the meeting.

The bill's central provision would allow the Cabinet to reclaim land and property currently under the jurisdiction of local councils for government development projects.

Under the proposed amendment, the Cabinet would be able to decide that land or property within a council's jurisdiction be removed from council control. Once such a decision is made, the Local Government Authority (LGA) would notify the relevant council, after which the property would cease to be a council asset and revert to state control. The decision would also be required to be made public.

Under the current Decentralisation Act, authority to determine council jurisdictions rests with the President. Previous governments have used these powers to remove islands and lagoons from council jurisdictions, although existing legislation requires compensation to be provided for investments made on reclaimed land.

The proposed amendment would expand those powers beyond the current framework.

The bill also contains provisions requiring councils to transfer land requested for government development projects, even before island or city physical development plans are approved. It would further amend the code of conduct for councillors by requiring cooperation with government development projects undertaken for public benefit.

In addition, actions deemed to obstruct government projects without reasonable grounds, or decisions resulting in the suspension of such projects, would be classified as prohibited conduct.

If approved by Parliament and ratified by the President, the amendments would take effect immediately.

The proposed changes have drawn criticism from opposition parties and some members of the public. The bill comes months after local council elections in which the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) secured seats in major cities and larger island councils across the country.