Proposed Decentralisation Amendments Empower Cabinet to Reclaim Council Land for National Development
Proposed legislative amendments to the Decentralisation Act granting the government authority to reclaim land from municipal jurisdictions for national development projects will significantly accelerate project execution across island communities, according to Local Government Authority (LGA) CEO Mohamed Nimal. Speaking in an interview with PSM News regarding the amendment bill submitted by Thulhaadhoo constituency MP Abdul Hannan Abubakar, Nimal addressed recurring administrative friction between central authorities and local councils over land allocation.
The bill currently before Parliament mandates that local councils provide full cooperation whenever the government executes projects intended for the collective benefit of the public within an island or city. Explicit provisions within the legislation prohibit councils from adopting decisions that obstruct, delay, or halt state projects without valid justification. Under the proposed framework, the Cabinet is empowered to remove plots and sites from a council's jurisdiction to facilitate government-led development initiatives. Crucially, the bill specifies that land required by the state can be reclaimed even before an island or city has approved and implemented its physical development plan.
Elaborating on the practical challenges prompting the amendment, LGA CEO Nimal disclosed that the authority frequently receives complaints regarding local councils hesitating to release land required for state development projects. He emphasized that in addition to directly serving citizens, councils are expected to act as an facilitating layer for state-funded infrastructure, stating that every council must extend full cooperation to government initiatives.
MP Abdul Hannan Abubakar stated that the primary objective of his bill is to establish a clear legal framework that guarantees full council cooperation, thereby allowing government development projects to proceed at a rapid pace. He added that the amendment also aims to strengthen and streamline official procedures governing land acquisition for state projects.
The proposed legislation follows a broader regulatory trend toward redefining the scope of municipal authority. Last year, the Decentralisation Act was amended to restrict specific council powers as their terms near expiration, requiring that recruitment of personnel and the leasing of land, lagoons, and reef areas must strictly adhere to regulations established by the Ministry of Finance and the LGA. Senior government officials have previously stated on multiple occasions that certain local councils obstruct public projects by refusing to release required land.