Male' City land lease details to be announced Wednesday

Male' City Council is set to release comprehensive details regarding land leases within the capital city on Wednesday, as announced by Mayor Adam Azim.

This follows a commitment made by Azim in July to conduct a thorough audit and register of all leased land, a task he noted had not been undertaken in the council's 15-year history.

Mayor Azim had previously pledged to provide a complete overview within two months, detailing "to whom, for what purpose, for what rent, for how long, whether there is a CSR component and all this." He emphasized the importance of transparency, stating he would "reveal to all you beloved people what has been happening to land in your city."

Speaking to Sun on Tuesday, Azim confirmed the completion of the land register and its imminent public disclosure at the council's general meeting on Wednesday. Councilors have already been informed of this upcoming release.

The announcement comes amidst prior calls for transparency from council members. Galolhu North Councilor Mohamed Saif Fathih had previously urged the Mayor to share details of council-owned land, expressing dissatisfaction over the delay in releasing this information despite repeated requests. Saif had also voiced concerns, accusing the mayor of allocating land in Male' city at "outrageous prices for long periods of time."

In response to such concerns, Mayor Azim reiterated his commitment to transparency, asserting that he would not grant any contract without first presenting it to both the public and the council.