Parliament Approves Changes Enabling State Acquisition of Council Land for Development
- Parliament approved amendments to the Decentralisation Act allowing the state to acquire council land for government development projects, with 47 MPs in favour and 12 against.
- Once Cabinet decides land within a council's jurisdiction is required, it would be separated from the council and placed under full state authority, even before physical development plans are approved.
- The bill also amends the councillors' Code of Conduct to require cooperation with government projects, while opposition MDP MPs raised constitutional concerns over decentralisation.
Parliament has passed amendments to the Decentralisation Act that would allow the central government to acquire land or areas under the jurisdiction of island and city councils for government development projects.
The amendments, submitted by Thulhaadhoo Constituency independent MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, were approved in Parliament today, with 47 MPs voting in favour and 12 against. The Decentralisation Committee had passed the proposed changes on Monday night.
The committee approved the amendments despite a petition calling for the withdrawal of the bill, which sought to allow the government to acquire land within council jurisdictions for development projects. A counter-petition supporting the amendments was also submitted. Both petitions were debated during parliamentary proceedings.
Under the proposed changes, once the Cabinet decides that land or premises within a council’s jurisdiction is required for a government project, the area would be separated from the council’s property and placed under the full authority of the state.
The amendments would also allow the government to acquire land required for development projects before the physical development plan for the relevant village has been approved. This provision would enable land to be transferred to the government at an earlier stage of the development process.
The bill also proposes changes to the Code of Conduct for council members, including provisions requiring councillors to cooperate with the government in implementing development projects.
The proposed additions state that council members should not obstruct government projects without a valid reason and should not make decisions aimed at stopping such projects.
During the parliamentary debate, opposition MDP MPs raised concerns over the amendments, arguing that the Constitution requires the Maldives to operate under a decentralised system of governance. They said changes to provisions intended to protect the authority of local councils could therefore raise constitutional concerns.
