Male' City Council has begun checking options to allocate a dedicated zone for individuals engaged in commercial fish cooking, rihaakuru making, and spice mix processing within residential areas of Malé.

At Wednesday's council meeting, Council Member for South Galolhu constituency Ismail Haleem noted that fish cooking and rihaakuru making have been traditionally carried out in some houses in Galolhu.

He stated that the work is currently being done by second-generation individuals and that, as the area develops and tall buildings are constructed, such work causes significant inconvenience to the general public.

He requested that avenues be facilitated for this work to be carried out without inconveniencing the public, as burning firewood and releasing smoke in houses located in narrow alleys is not acceptable in today's society.

Regarding the matter, Male' City Mayor Adam Azim stated that although industrial zones were established in Malé, Vilimale', and Hulhumalé, the industrial zone in Malé had been taken by the government.

The Mayor noted that the site in Vilimale' has halted operations as it is being used for the Thilamalé Bridge project, and highlighted that Thilafushi is also a place designated for such activities.

To resolve the issue, the meeting passed a motion to research ways in which these activities can be carried out without inconveniencing the public, and the matter has been sent to the council's Land Use Plan Committee.