V. Atoll Council expresses concern over resort development in V. Miyaru Kandu area

The V. Atoll Council has expressed concern over the ongoing resort development in V. Medhufalhu, adjacent to V. Miyaru Kandu, and has urged Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal to halt the project.

V. Atoll Council President Shujau Ali sent a letter to Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal expressing concern over the reclamation of a lagoon leased to Kaani Hotels and Tours Private Limited to develop a resort in V. Atoll.

The letter stated that the "V. Miyaru Kandu" area (1382.54 hectares) adjacent to the area marked for reclamation for resort development has been a protected area since 1995, and carrying out such a project in the area is against the law, thus requesting not to proceed with the resort development work in that area.

Furthermore, it stated that the work being done to develop a resort in V. Medhufalhu, leased by the Ministry for resort development, is being carried out in violation of the Decentralization Act of the Administrative Divisions of the Maldives. Additionally, although Article 8-1(b) of Chapter 3 of the Act states that any uninhabited islands and lagoons within the administrative division to which the Atoll Council belongs shall be used, developed, or leased by any government agency only after consulting with the Atoll Council, the Council noted that this was done illegally without consulting the Council.

This letter has been copied to the President's Office, the Environment Ministry, and the Local Government Ministry.