President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to place Dhapparu under the jurisdiction of Filladhoo Island Council again.
Dhapparu was initially leased for resort development in 2010, but no work was conducted on the island. President Solih included Dhapparu in the area of jurisdiction of the Filladhoo Island Council in 2020. However, the government had removed Dhapparu from the council's jurisdiction in August 2021 in order to begin development on the island as an integrated real estate project.
The decision drew criticism from the residents of Filladhoo and the island council. In response, Spokesperson at the President's Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez previously has said Dhapparu had been marked for the development of a new product in real estate tourism.
The spokesperson noted islands developed as resorts are leased to foreign investors on a long-term basis and said discussions are being held regularly with the Filladhoo Island Council on decisions made regarding Dhapparu. He added the government will not breach the principles of the Decentralisation Act by asserting any undue authority on local councils.
The President's Office has now revealed President Solih has listened to the wishes of the residents of Filladhoo and has placed Dhapparu under the jurisdiction of the island council again.