Work to cut down a large banyan tree on Villimalé's western beach has continued despite the Malé City Council stating it never issued the required permit and the Environmental Regulatory Authority ordering a stop.
The tree, estimated to be more than 50 years old and located on a children's play area, exceeds the circumference threshold under the 2022 regulation on island vegetation. That regulation requires prior authorisation from the relevant city or island council for felling trees of that size on public land.
Activist Ahmed Niyaz climbed the tree on 5 November after crews began cutting the previous day. Police told him the work was lawful; he descended and was briefly taken to a station. The council and ERA both said they had no documentation showing approval. ERA instructed WAMCO in writing to cease and sought verification of any permit. None was produced.
Work paused briefly but resumed after the weekend. By 12 November the crown had been stripped, with branches and equipment remaining on site and roads left open to pedestrians. This is the third reported instance in four months of mature trees being cut on Villimalé without clear council permission.
A year earlier President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had called a show-of-hands vote at a residents' meeting and later directed the environment ministry to remove two banyans after complaints about roots affecting houses. The environment ministry had written that removal should be a last resort after trimming or relocation, but the letter does not constitute the council permit the regulation requires.
Police said they held paperwork from relevant institutions and saw no issues. WAMCO did not respond to questions. Residents remain divided between those citing structural damage and those viewing the trees as part of Greater Malé's remaining green space.
