90 percent Land Dept docs saved from fire: City Council

Male’ City Council has reported that 90 percent document of the council’s Land Department was saved from the fire that engulfed in an office block last Thursday.

The fire significantly destroyed three offices that ran in the block, which include the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, Ministry of Environment, and departments of Male’ City Council. The fire destroyed the office block beyond use.

After the fire destroyed two sections of Male’ City Council, the authority convened an emergency meeting for an immediate course of action.

At the meeting, the council’s member Mohamed Areesh confirmed 90 percent of the Land Department documents were recovered from the fire, and added that the authority requires a 2,000-square-foot space to resume its operations.

Operations of all three ministries that ran in the now destroyed building is being shifted to Dharubaaruge temporarily.

At the emergency meeting, the City Council had proposed requesting the government to seek if the authority could be accommodated at Dharubaaruge as well.

Male’ City Mayor, Adam Azim confirmed the authority has already sought assistance from all relevant government bodies. He added the council has decided to move the recovered documents to Galolhu School and asked the council members to follow the instructions of Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh.

Despite the unexpected circumstances, Azim assured he would make Male’ City Council among the best functioning council bodies.

The council also approved a budget of MVR 4.5 million that will be earmarked for making necessary expenses to resume operations.

While there are public concerns of personal information of Male’ residents being destroyed, the fire took place amid council’s efforts of digitalizing its documents.