The government has made a decision to allocate MVR 30 million from the Green Fund for waste management initiatives in the islands. This marks the first instance of the Green Fund providing financial assistance specifically for this purpose.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology organized a special function at the ministry to officially hand over the allocated funds to the respective Island Councils. The event was attended by Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Aminath Shauna, senior officials from the President's Office, and representatives from the Local Government Authority.
As per the press statement released by the Ministry, a total of 178 islands, excluding cities, will receive a total of MVR 30.8 million under the initiative.
According to the Ministry, the primary challenge in waste management on the islands is the high costs associated with it. Councils have raised concerns about their inability to maintain necessary machinery and equipment in islands where waste management systems have already been implemented. In response, the government has made the decision to allocate funds for waste management, aiming to address these issues effectively.
The Ministry has said that starting from this year, the Green Fund will allocate funds annually for waste management projects in the islands.
The Maldives Green Fund is a trust fund established in 2019, as a repository for the revenue generated from the Green Tax imposed on tourists visiting the Maldives.
According to the Ministry, the Green Fund allocated 63 percent of its total funds towards water and sewerage projects. Additionally, 20 percent was allocated for waste management initiatives, while 15 percent was dedicated towards shore protection projects. The remaining funds were utilized for various activities associated with environmental protection.
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