Streetlights in 144 islands violate safety standards: FENAKA

Inspections across the Maldives show streetlights on 144 islands violate safety standards, FENAKA's Managing Director Mohamed Muaz Rasheed revealed.

Speaking at a press conference held today, Muaz said that the company reviewed the condition of streetlights in all islands it supplies electricity to, following the incident where children got electrocuted in Raa atoll Un'goofaaru.

The study revealed streetlights in 144 islands are not up to safety standards, he said.

He also said that the state owned enterprise has decided to discontinue services to places which are in violation of the standards set by the Utility Regulation Authority (URA).

"[We] extended the provision of electricity for street lights upon the request of many councils. Today marks one month. URA notified to standardise the streetlights much later after our decision," he said.

He further revealed that URA has notified the company to discontinue providing electricity if the safety measures of streetlights on these islands are not rectified.

Muaz said that councils have been notified to change the way electricity is provided and to ensure the safety of streetlights. He also mentioned that councils have been instructed to inform Fenaka as soon as possible if they wish to have the work carried out by the company.

"If [they want us to] standardise the streetlights to meet the URA standards, they must inform us before August 7. Then we will do it for the councils," he said.

Last May, three children were electrocuted while playing in the streets of Un'goofaaru. URA fined Fenaka by MVR 50,000 following the incident.

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