A pet care facility will be developed in Farukolhufushi for stray cats living in the streets of Male', the government has said.
When President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu was mayor, the city council approved a budget to build a temporary facility for stray cats at the Fishermen's Park.
However, the project was not launched as planned, and the government has now decided to build the cat facility in Farukolhufushi, which is part of Hulhumale' phase two, President's Office Public Policy Secretary Abdulla Nazim said yesterday.
Land has now been designated from Farukolhufushi and the facility will be developed and managed under an agreement to be signed between the Male' city council and the Agriculture and Animal Welfare Ministry, Nazim said.
"It has been decided for the Male' city council to set up a cat center on the land arranged from Farukolhufushi, transfer cats living in the streets of Male' there, and to establish a cat shelter service there," he said.
The city council previously made different decisions on various occasions over the problem of stray cats in Male'. When President Muizzu was mayor, the council decided to develop a cat facility in Vilimale'.
After a private party expressed interest in developing the facility at their own expense, the council decided in May last year to establish a temporary shelter in Male' with its own funds.
An MVR 1.9 million budget was passed and President Muizzu said at the time that it would be completed in four months and services would begin after employees were hired.
Despite approving a budget and making plans, the city council did not develop the facility.
