Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that Vilimale, the fifth ward of Malé, must be maintained as an island with natural greenery.

Entering the debate generated on social media following remarks made by a Vilimale resident at a meeting held by Malé City Council last night to meet with Malé citizens, Nasheed said in a post on X that Vilimale must not be allowed to become a concrete jungle.

"I believe Vilimale must be maintained as an island where its greenery, natural disposition, and characteristics are protected, and which does not become a concrete jungle," Nasheed said.

The former President, who holds the position of MDP Chairperson, stated that with Malé, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi being connected via the Vilimale bridge, tall concrete buildings will be constructed in those locations in no time.

A Vilimale resident at last night's meeting noted that most people living on the island want to cut down the trees and construct flats. He stated that successive governments have not done anything for the residents of Vilimale so far.

This government has contracted the Bank of Maldives (BML) to carry out a housing project in Vilimale. Since the area where some of these flats are to be constructed includes the Vilimale wetland area, arrangements were made to cut down some of the trees there.

However, following protests by environmental defenders against this move and the submission of the case to court, the government decided not to cut down the trees and to construct the flats in a different area instead.

In addition to the flat project, this government has also decided to proceed with a project to construct a hospital in Vilimale.