MDP to Local Government Ministry with concerns on Urban Development Bill

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has tried to meet with Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar on Monday to raise the concerns they have regarding the Urban Development Bill submitted through which urban centres are to be developed across various Maldivian regions.

Several MDP lawmakers went to Local Government Ministry on Monday to meet the Minister and hand over a letter detailing concerns regarding the Urban Development Bill. However, it was Deputy Minister Arif who met with lawmakers instead.

The government-backed Urban Development Bill submitted to the Parliament with the sponsorship of Villingili MP Azim Abdul Azeez is being reviewed by a Joint Committee between the National Development and Heritage Committee and Decentralization Committee.

MDP’s Thoddoo MP Hussain Sameer who is a member of the Committee told the press that councils and various organizations have significant concerns regarding the Urban Development Bill, which he said is detailed in the party’s letter.

“MNU has conducted a research on this. The research clearly shows that Maldivian citizens presently want to move forward by further strengthening the decentralization system introduced by MDP and by solving issues within this system,” he said.

Sameer noted that the councils wish to appear before the Committee to raise the concerns.

The Committee, he added, comprised of 20 PNC lawmakers and just two MDP lawmakers. Sameer emphasized that despite requesting a one-month period to review the bill, the Committee has voted on a deadline of next Tuesday to complete the review. 

He expressed concern over the possibility of the works on the bill being completed without regarding to the concerns of the party and the councils if MDP’s letter is not submitted.

 Sameer particularly stressed concerns regarding the disempowerment of Decentralization Act if the bill is passed as Councils will be institutes just carrying out municipal works. Henceforth, he cited the need for the Councils’ voices to be heard on the matter.

While MDP went to the Local Government Ministry to meet the Minister on Monday, the usual policy in this trajectory required the party requesting the meeting to seek a prior appointment.

The development of urban centres across various Maldivian regions is an electoral pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Under this pledge, a total of seven urban centres will be developed including two integrated development zones in the northernmost and southernmost Maldivian regions.