Government has gazetted a decision today to hand over to local councils uninhabited islands even from outside their official jurisdiction for use to benefit the public.
The regulation set on Thursday allows the government to give uninhabited islands to councils and private parties to be used for the betterment of people in fields other than fisheries, agriculture and economic work.
Councils interested in adopting islands must submit proposals to the government. Decisions will be reached after thorough review of the submitted proposals.
Before submitting such a proposal, councils are mandated to hold deliberations with the residents of their island, and pass the motion through a meeting with the public.
They must also obtain necessary authorization from the relevant Atoll Councils.
The authority to decide on allocation of uninhabited islands outside the jurisdiction of islands rests on the Local Governance Ministry.
However, decisions on which islands will be included in this programme can be made by the President alone.
Earlier, the public were allowed to conduct a very limited number of activities on such islands. The new regulation that came into effect yesterday allows a much wider range of options. These include:
- Cultivation of food and plants
- Storing things on the island itself
- Keeping 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 fibre, carpentry and bricks
- Provide picnics and water sports facilities
- Production and sale of snacks and drinks
The regulation states that councils will be given the islands for use for a period of ten years.
It is expected of councils to set up guidelines to ensure environmental protection on the islands.
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