Parliament has accepted an amendment to the Decentralisation Act that would allow the Government to take land under the jurisdiction of local councils for development projects.
The amendment to the Decentralisation Act was submitted by Thulhaadhoo Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru in his personal capacity as a private member’s bill.
Parliamentarian Abdul Hannan said the amendment was proposed to ensure the full cooperation of councils, within a legal framework, in accelerating Government development projects. He said another objective was to strengthen procedures relating to land required for State projects.
Among the provisions proposed under the amendment is allowing the Cabinet to decide that land or premises under the jurisdiction of a council may be removed from the council’s jurisdiction when required by the Government to carry out a development project.
The bill also states that such land and premises may be taken over by the Government even before the physical development plan of the respective island or city has been approved and its implementation has begun.
The proposed amendment further states that when the Government carries out projects on an island or in a city for the collective benefit of the public, the respective council must provide its full cooperation.
It also seeks to establish that councils must not, without a valid reason, take actions that obstruct such projects or make decisions that could result in such projects being halted.
A total of 55 Members of Parliament voted in favour of accepting the bill, while eight voted against it.
Following its acceptance, the bill was referred to the Decentralisation Committee for review.