Nimal: Amendment allowing state to take council land will speed up development projects

Local Government Authority (LGA) CEO Mohamed Nimal says the proposed amendment to the Decentralization Act, which would allow the government to take over land under the jurisdiction of councils for development projects, will expedite the implementation of such projects. 

Nimal made the remark in an interview with PSM News regarding the bill submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubaker.

The bill, now before Parliament, states that councils must fully cooperate with government projects undertaken for the collective benefit of the people living in an island or city under their jurisdiction. It also stipulates that councils must not, without valid reason, act in a manner that obstructs such projects or make decisions that could halt their implementation.

Under the amendment, the Cabinet may decide to exclude land and premises within a council’s jurisdiction for the purpose of carrying out development projects. The bill further allows the government to acquire land required for projects even before the physical development plan of the island or city is approved and comes into force.

LGA CEO Nimal said the authority continues to receive complaints that some councils are reluctant to allocate land for projects.  

Nimal said councils, in addition to serving the public, are key facilitators of government projects and must extend full cooperation. He noted that some councils remain reluctant to allocate land when required.

He said the main purpose of the amendment is to ensure full cooperation from councils within a clear legal framework, in order to accelerate the implementation of government development projects. The amendment also aims to strengthen procedures for acquiring land required for state projects, he added.

The Decentralization of Administrative Areas Act was amended last year, restricting several powers of councils, including recruitment of staff and the leasing of land and lagoon areas under their jurisdiction, except under regulations set by the Finance Ministry and the Local Government Authority (LGA). At the same time, government officials have repeatedly stated that some councils are refusing to allocate land needed to implement projects.