Published Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Mr Maskey has made the call as new plans to combat long standing problems in the area were launched Wednesday, in the run-up to St Patrick's Day.
"The Holylands is vastly populated, it is like a permanent building site, the housing stock has been unregulated and the waste management requirements alone take up a huge amount of the Belfast City Councils budget, all this has conspired to force long-term residents out of the area," Mr Maskey said.
The Sinn Fein representative believes ministers need to take political responsibility for the problem.
"It needs to be adapted by the government as an area in crisis which needs to be regenerated making it more attractive for families," he added.
The area has hit the spotlight on several occasions.
CCTV and street wardens have been introduced to clamp down on student disorder.
UTV understands the cameras will go live later this week.
Last year, student violence in south Belfast on St Patrick's Day cost over £35,000.
Riot police were called to Carmel Street after drunken youths vandalised a car, before throwing cans and bottles at officers.
A total of 19 people were arrested and two members of the force injured.
On Tuesday Alliance South Belfast MLA Anna Lo brought the issue of anti-social behaviour in the area to the Assembly.
"People will not accept scenes like those that we saw last St Patrick's Day in the Holylands ever again. That was tantamount to torture for people living in the area. The thoughtless actions of a few must not be allowed to spoil a great day for everyone else".
"This is about protecting students as well as local residents. The parents of young people at university need to be confident that measures are in place to allow their sons and daughters to get on with their studies and their lives free from the hassle caused by a small minority of students."
More than 170 incidents of anti-social behaviour have been reported in the last three months of 2009.