President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has approved the 13th Amendment to Act No. 7/2010 (Decentralisation of Administrative Areas Act). The amendment was passed during the 32nd session of the 20th Parliament on August 22.
The amendment aims to align Act No. 2010/7 (Decentralisation of Administrative Areas of the Maldives Act) with the proposed Infrastructure Planning and Management Bill. It introduces changes to land use plans required by local island and city councils as part of the physical development plan under the new Infrastructure Planning and Management Act.
One key change is the removal of the requirement for island or city development plans to adhere to land use plans prepared by the councils and approved by a national agency. In this context, the term "Physical Development Plan" refers to the "Island Development Master Plan" created by local councils for residential islands, or the "City Development Master Plan" developed by city councils under the Infrastructure Planning and Management Act.
The 13th Amendment will take effect upon the commencement of the Infrastructure Planning and Management Act.