Usfasgandu to be handed over to Housing Ministry

Male’ City Council Mayor Ali Manik (Maizan Alibe) has said that Housing Ministry has ordered the Council to hand over Usfasgandu before Thursday, if illegal activities are being conducted in the area.

City Council however does not feel that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) should be asked to vacate the area just yet.

He added that the Council is checking if any changes need to be made to the lease of Usfasgandu to MDP.

“Housing Ministry has said that they will take over the area on 12 April if illegal activities are being conducted there,” Alibe said.

City Council Member Mohamed Abdul Kareem said that the administrative procedure of handing over the area to Housing Ministry will not be simple:

“All the land areas which are being looked after by the City Council, are registered under City Council. I don’t think this can be changed within three days. Even if we hand over, how can they use it without registration?” he asked.

The Council also said that the current government is working on limiting the mandate granted to City Council under decentralization regulations. Moreover, they accused government ministries of refusing to cooperate with the Council, and noted that Housing Ministry is working against the right to freedom of expression.