The Male' City Council says it never granted permission to cut banyan trees in the beach sports area of Villimale', after an attempt to fell a mature tree led an environmental activist to climb it and police to remove him. Councillor Hussain Furushan says the Environmental Regulatory Authority has instructed the council, police and WAMCO to halt the tree-cutting operation.
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Police use a telehandler to negotiate with environmental activist Ahmed Niyaz on November 5, 2026.
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Police are telling residents MCC gave permission. We didn't. Police cordoned the area, people in civilian clothes showed up to cut the tree, and now we're left asking who authorised any of this. We've asked our departments and no such docu…
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said the matter will be submitted for discussion at the council's official meeting next week.
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