Council says not consulted over Hulhumalé bowling arena project
Furushan said the council had learned about the development through social media.
Malé City Council has raised concerns over the allocation of the Ruhgandu 2 area in Hulhumalé Phase I for the development of a bowling arena without consulting the council.
Ruhgandu 2, an area used by the public for events and recreation, has been closed off with metal fencing.
The approximately 10,000-square-foot site is being cleared for the development of a bowling arena. Opposition figures have alleged that the project, estimated to be worth around MVR 20 million, was awarded to a private company without a competitive bidding process.
The government has not publicly disclosed which company was awarded the project or released details of the development.
Maafannu North MDP councillor Hussain Furushan raised the issue as an urgent matter during the Malé City Council’s official meeting on Wednesday.
Furushan said the council had learned about the development through social media.
“There are very few open spaces in Hulhumalé with this many trees,” he said, adding that the council had not been consulted about the project.
Furushan said procedures under the Land Act should be followed and argued that the views of the public and the council should have been sought before proceeding with the development.
“There was no consultation with the public. Nothing was shared with the council. There is also no clarity at all about who the land has been given to,” he said.
Furushan said he brought the issue before the council after members of the public raised concerns with him over the removal of the area.
Mayor Adam Azim told the meeting that the recently ratified amendments to the Land Act require projects of this nature to be announced in advance and provide 14 days to seek the views of the public and the relevant council.
“However, once again, what we are seeing is action being taken contrary to the law,” Azim said.
Azim said Hulhumalé falls under Malé City Council’s jurisdiction and argued that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) must act in accordance with the law when undertaking developments in the area.
“HDC does not have the authority to act independently of this. Under the law, Hulhumalé is under Malé City Council. Therefore, I believe HDC must act in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” he said.
Azim proposed that the council formally write to HDC requesting that such matters be handled in accordance with the required procedures. The proposal received the support of all councillors present.
Hulhumalé South MDP councillor Ahmed Ghalib also raised concerns over development projects in the Greater Malé region being undertaken without consultation with the council.
Ghalib said Hulhumalé falls within the jurisdiction of Malé City Council and argued that the council should be informed of developments carried out in the area.
He said the way responsibilities are currently divided between the government and the council had left the council with limited ability to provide services to Malé residents beyond issuing birth certificates and handling registration-related matters.
