Housing Ministry notifies City Council to empty Usfasgandu within seven days

Housing Ministry has notified Male’ City Council to empty and hand over Usfasgandu within seven days. Usfasgandu has been leased by Male’ City Council to Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to hold political activities.

Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu said at a press conference at Housing Ministry today, that City Council has been given a notice of seven days based on the attorney general’s advice following the High Court’s decision on the matter. He said that if City Council fails to hand over Usfasgandu within the defined period, the lawful process will be followed by the ministry to take over Usfasgandu.

The notice sent by Housing Ministry to City Council today highlights that City Council had failed to make a plan to develop Usfasgandu, and also violated the pertinent regulations.

“We have, following the advice of the attorney general, notified Male’ City Council to empty Usfasgandu and hand it over to Housing Ministry within seven days from today. In the event that City Council fails to hand over Usfasgandu within the defined period, the lawful process will be followed by the ministry to take over Usfasgandu, and the ministry will not be responsible for the items that remain in Usfasgandu after that day,” he said.

He said that Usfasgandu is not being used according to the Land Use Plan. He said that thus, the notice sent today states that out of the land plots handed over to City Council on 19 September 2012, Usfasgandu and the reclaimed land south of Dharubaaruge had been removed from City Council. He said that this was in line with the High Court ruling in relation to this case, as well as the regulation which states that lands can be taken over by the ministry if the City Council violates the pertinent rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, City Council has given MDP a deadline to remove its property and empty Usfasgandu.