Ministry of Finance has revealed over USD 2.66 million has been spent from Green Fund last June.
The Green Fund Report for June states USD 2.66 million was spent on 26 projects across the country, including shore protection, establishing water and sewerage systems and waste management projects. In this regard, over USD 1 million was utilised from the fund for the land reclamation project of Thilafushi, Kaafu Atoll and USD 311,000 was utilised to install a waste incinerator in Thilafushi.
As per the statistics, the state received about USD 253,200 as Green Tax in June which is a 93% decrease compared to the USD 3.66 million received in June last year. The decrease is attributed to the suspension of tourism operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. International borders were opened after 110 days, on July 15.
Green Fund was introduced to tackle environmental issues in the Maldives as per the Tourism Act of the Maldives. A Green Tax of USD 6 is charged per tourist for each day they spend at a resort or a hotel in the Maldives.