4 uninhabited islands allocated to councils

Four uninhabited islands have been officially handed over to three local councils under a government initiative to allocate uninhabited islands outside the jurisdiction of inhabited islands for public benefit.

The allocations were made under regulations, which were gazetted by the President's Office on January 18, 2024.

As part of this initiative, 28 uninhabited islands were identified as eligible for transfer to councils. Proposals were submitted for four islands:

Agreements between the Cities, Local Government and Public Works Ministry, the Finance Ministry, and the respective councils were signed to formalise the handovers on Monday.

The President's Office stated that this marks the first time uninhabited islands have been decentralised and handed over to councils, enabling communities to directly benefit from these resources. The move is described as a milestone in decentralisation, granting councils greater control over state resources.

The rules stipulate that before submitting a proposal to acquire an island, councils must hold a public meeting to consult with the local population and obtain approval. Additionally, permission from the respective atoll council must be secured for the proposed use of the island.

The allocated islands can be utilised for a range of activities under the regulation, including:

Previously, councils were limited to maintaining uninhabited islands for activities such as coconut harvesting or planting small vegetable nurseries without cutting trees. The new regulation expands the scope of activities councils can undertake.

The President's Office stated that additional islands remain available for allocation to councils under the regulation.