The government has decided to allocate uninhabited islands not under the jurisdiction of local councils for use such as generating revenue for residents.
The Ministry of Housing, Land and Infrastructure Development has published an amendment to the regulation on leasing uninhabited islands for use other than for fisheries, agriculture, industrial and economic purposes. The new rules allow councils to request to use uninhabited islands not under their jurisdiction.
Local councils are allowed to request the government to use nearby islands to conduct income revenue generating activities. The ministry stated that the President's decision to amend the regulation will strengthen the decentralization system and empower councils. The ministry also stated that the islands will be allocated after evaluating the proposals submitted by the councils. The proposals are to be submitted to the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works after holding discussions with the residents of the island and approving the proposal.
Proposals can only be submitted for islands designated by the government. The ministry stated that councils can only apply to use an uninhabited island in their administrative area. Island councils must obtain permission from the atoll council to use the uninhabited islands. The proposal may also be submitted without the lease section in order to use the uninhabited island without requiring a lease payment. If there is no island in the area, an uninhabited island in another area can be acquired with the permission of the atoll council.
The ministry stated that the uninhabited islands will be allocated to a council for a period of 10 years. When proposals are submitted for the acquisition of an island by more than one council, certain standards must be submitted to protect the environment of the island.
The ministry allows the following activities to be conducted in the islans under the new rules:
- Planting trees or growing food
- Storage of materials
- Raising chickens, goats and birds
- Cooking and drying meat
- Salting fish
- Cooking and drying of sea cucumber at the individual level
- Aquaculture
- Fish farming
- Boat building
- Fiber, carpentry and stone work and workshops
- Travel and water sports services
- Preparation and sale of light drinks or snacks