Resolution submitted to Parliament opposing government acquisition of 14 land plots in Male'
21 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ބުދަ 07:36A resolution has been submitted to the People’s Majlis asserting that the government's decision to reclaim 14 land plots under the jurisdiction of the Male’ City Council violates the Decentralization Act. The resolution highlights that the seizure of these lands will cut off vital revenue streams for the council, creating significant challenges for the maintenance of mosques in the capital and the council's overall administrative operations.
Meekail Ahmed Naseem, Member of Parliament for the South Galolhu constituency. | rayyithunge majlis
A resolution has been submitted to the People’s Majlis asserting that the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development’s decision to seize 14 land plots from the jurisdiction of the Male’ City Council and transfer them to state ownership is an obstruction to the decentralization system.
The resolution was submitted to the Parliament by Meekail Ahmed Naseem, the Member for the South Galolhu constituency.
The resolution submitted by MP Meekail states that while the Cabinet holds the authority to repossess land within council jurisdictions for government development projects, the Decentralization Act mandates specific legal procedures that must be followed before such decisions are finalized. According to the resolution, the law requires the government to share project details with the relevant council and seek their formal input and consultation prior to the removal of any land from their jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the law mandates that the government must disclose full details of any projects planned for lands removed from a council's jurisdiction. However, the resolution notes that the Ministry of Housing decided to reclaim these 14 plots without disclosing any information beyond the project names and without holding any prior consultations with the City Council.
The lands the government has decided to reclaim are currently active revenue-generating assets for the Male' City Council. Meekail's resolution states that since the income from these properties is utilized for the maintenance of mosques in Male' and the council’s administrative operations, seizing them would result in a loss of financial benefits and pose significant challenges to the council's functionality.
The City Council has characterized the government's decision as a significant detriment to the residents of Male', coming at a time when the council is formulating crucial plans to develop parking structures and public spaces aimed at easing the city's congestion.
The resolution further states that this decision will restrict the legal powers of councils and create significant obstacles to the decentralized administrative system of the Maldives.
