Parliament has passed an amendment to the Decentralisation Act allowing the Government to acquire land under the jurisdiction of local councils for development projects.
Thulhaadhoo Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru submitted the amendment to allow the Government to acquire land within council jurisdictions for development projects. The Decentralisation Committee introduced further amendments while reviewing the bill.
Under the Government-proposed amendment, the Cabinet may remove land and other areas from a council's jurisdiction when the Government requires them for development projects. The Government may acquire such land and areas even before the respective island or city approves and begins implementing its physical development plan.
The amendment also requires councils to fully cooperate when the Government carries out projects in an island or city for the collective benefit of its residents. It prevents councils from taking actions that obstruct such projects without a valid reason or making decisions that could result in the projects being halted.
As part of its review, the Decentralisation Committee added a provision requiring the relevant ministry to compensate for investments already made on any land the Government acquires from a council's jurisdiction for development projects.
Parliament passed the bill with the committee's amendments, with 47 Members of Parliament voting in favour and 12 Members of Parliament voting against.