30 August 2007
Report: Soodh
People of Lhaviyani Maafilaafushi are leaving the island following a decision to set up of a Maldivies National Defence Force, MNDF centre in the island. It is reported that some people in the island have requested to move to other islands as they are not happy about the MNDF centre coming there.
Ministry of Atolls Development has revealed that Mafilaafushi is selected for undertaking a decentralisation project, and the government has not finalised a decision whether the island will become a inhabited island or not. Unlike inhabited islands, Maafilaafushi does not have an island chief and island office. According to the Atolls Ministry, the needs and services for the island were provided by the project office in the island.
Atolls Ministry has informed that people of Maafilaaafushi are unhappy about the establishment of MNDF centre there and many people have expressed their desire to move to other islands. The Ministry has further informed that it has been arranged to provide housing plots in Kaafu Atoll Kaashidhoo for those who want to leave Maafilaafushi.
Mafilaafushi project office has said that a large area of land from the eastern and western side of Maafilaafushi has been allocated for the MNDF centre after government decided to make an airport in Madivaru island which was given to the Defence Ministry for MNDF use. Defence Ministry officials said they are unaware of the dissatisfaction of the people who are living in Maafilaafushi, but land for MNDF centre was allocated by the Government for that purpose.
Maafilaafushi is an island selected by the government to develop under the decentralised programme initiated several years ago. It was aimed at relieving the congestion in Hinnavaru and Naifaru but the project did not receive much support from people to move and settle down in the island.
News: Velidhoo Community
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