E-petition calls for preservation of Villimalé island character

An e-petition has been submitted to Parliament calling for the preservation of the island character of Villimalé and signatures are currently being collected.

The petition was filed by Abdulla Hussain Rasheed of V. Miares through the Parliament’s e-petition system.

Under parliamentary procedures, a petition submitted through a member requires at least 500 signatures. If it reaches 840 signatures, it will be forwarded to the government for consideration, and if it reaches 2,100 signatures, it will be taken up for debate in Parliament.

The petition states that Villimalé represents a model of island development in the Maldives that has maintained controlled growth. It notes that the island has, to date, avoided traffic congestion, noise and air pollution associated with high vehicle use.

According to the petition, restrictions on motorised vehicles and the design of streets have enabled residents, including children, elderly persons and persons with disabilities, to move around the island with reduced traffic risk. It also notes that public spaces such as parks, beaches, harbour areas and green spaces have remained in use and maintained.

However, the petition raises concerns that certain actions by the government and the city council could affect these conditions. These include an increase in battery-powered bicycles, proposals to remove older trees, and the nearing completion of the Thilamalé Bridge section between Malé and Villimalé.

The petition outlines a number of proposed measures, including regulating battery-powered bicycles and introducing a council-managed bicycle-sharing system, and protecting mature trees and green areas due to their links to public health and the island’s environment.

It also calls for the use of root control methods instead of tree removal where roots affect buildings, regular tree planting and maintenance by the city council, and the integration of large trees and green areas into infrastructure planning. The petition states that greenery in newly developed areas, including the hospital and housing zones, should be retained.

In addition, the petition refers to President Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge that vehicles would not be allowed to cross the bridge. It calls for the establishment of a designated parking area and an access system before the bridge opens, as well as a transport arrangement for patients travelling between the bridge area and the hospital once the connection is in use.