Three councils to receive uninhabited islands outside jurisdiction

The government has approved proposals filed by three local councils seeking to lease uninhabited islands outside its jurisdiction under regulatory changes made last year.

The announcement was made by Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar in a post on X on Thursday.

According to Adam Shareef, the Local Government Ministry is coordinating with the Finance Ministry and the Planning Ministry to handover uninhabited islands to R. Inguraidhoo Council, Dh. Atoll Council, and L. Maavah Council.

As such:

• Inguraidhoo Council will receive R. Neyo
• Dh. Atoll Council will receive Dh. Minimasgali and Dh. Fenfushi
• Maavah Council will receive L. Bodumaabulhali

Adam Shareef said the ministry will be submitting the report to the President’s Office next week.

The Regulation on the Allocation of Uninhabited Islands for Fisheries, Agriculture and Economic Uses', published by the government in January last year, allows councils to use uninhabited islands outside its jurisdiction for business activities run for the welfare of the public.

Councils interested in getting islands outside its jurisdiction must hold a public meeting to approve proposals, before submitting it to the government.

They must also obtain necessary authorization from the relevant atoll council.

The islands can be utilized for:

• Cultivation of food and plants
• Storage of materials
• Raising chicken, goats or cattle, birds
• Cooking and drying fish
• Produce salted dry fish
• Cooking and drying sea cucumbers at an individual (and not commercial) capacity
• Conducting aquaculture work
• Constructing boats and other vessels
• Conducting workshops and other work related to the use of fiber, carpentry and bricks
• Provide picnics and water sports facilities
• Production and sale of snacks and beverages

The regulation states that councils will receive the islands for a period of ten years.