MPL refuses to handover T-Jetty: Male' City Council

Male' City Council revealed that Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has refused to hand over the T-Jetty area to them. 

According to the council, the period granted to MPL to hand over the area to the authority expired on Sunday, 19 December.

They also claimed that representatives from the council went on Monday to the T-Jetty area, but MPL did not cooperate. 

Speaking to 'Sun', Mayor of Male' City Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that the council had undertaken all necessary steps and had given necessary notices to MPL. He added that even after the required 90 days were up, the council had granted additional seven days as well. 

"We requested to hand over the running of the area during meetings and by communicating through documents as well. However, even after the manded period was up there was no handover, and we finally went from the council to take over the area today."

Dr. Muizzu revealed that they intended to bring T-Jetty under the council in order to run in a way that was more profitable to the people.  

"The purpose of this was to serve the people within the boundaries of the law. Run the places under city council and earn and income that is put towards the people."

Indicating the latest developments, the mayor said that the legal team of the council undertake the next steps in the case. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh visited the area and spoke to the press. He stated that the council will go to court in order to take over the area, and would submit the case in the following week. 

MPL was tasked with the upkeep of T-Jetty in March 2015. Prior to that, it was under the Housing Ministry, which was headed by the current Mayor Dr. Muizzu. 

Nareesh also said that the city council does not believe that there was any need to communicate with the Planning or Transport Ministries regarding this. He added that due to changes brought to the Decentralization Act, the period indicated in the MOU tasking MPL with T-Jetty was up three years ago.

"North Harbour is registered to the city council. T-aaJetty is registered with the city council as well. Following the changes brought to Decentralization Act in 2015, the President has sent a letter that indicated that these harbors are under the city councils jurisdiction."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from MPL Dhaaanish NIzaam claimed that in 2015 Housing Ministry tasked MPL with T-Jetty indefinitely. 

"We would like to highlight that only Planning Ministry has the authority to take T-Jetty from MPL and we are ready to act in accordance to the instructions from the ministry."

Dhaanish also noted that they will continue to provide all the services as they normally would from T-Jetty.