Portions of a lagoon in the north of Alif Alif Rasdhoo atoll have been placed under the jurisdictions of the Thoddoo and Rasdhoo islands in the atoll amid voting for the parliamentary elections today.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's decree was published in the government gazette at 11:28 am this morning. The portion of the lagoon placed under Thoddoo's jurisdiction by the decree lies 11.4 kilometers south of the island.
The decree granted 200 hectares from the northeast of the lagoon to Thoddoo. The adjacent 200-hectare area was placed under Rasdhoo's jurisdiction.
Speaking to Adhadhu, Thoddoo council president Ahmed Karam said the council had asked for the lagoon to be placed under the island's jurisdiction. It was the nearest lagoon available for Thoddoo's jurisdiction apart from the island's land, he said.
"[The intention is to] make a specific special plan to find a good kind of work or development in the lagoon that the government approves and to arrange some things that would benefit Thoddoo," said Karam, a member of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The two decrees were published in the government gazette despite Sunday being declared as a public holiday.
Today's presidential decrees amid voting to elect 93 MPs for the 20th People's Majlis came after decrees were issued last week to expand the jurisdiction of six other islands.
This included islands from the two edges of Ari atoll. More islands and lagoons were added to the jurisdictions of five islands in Ari atolls.
- Galagili lagoon for Alif Alif Ukulhas (April 17)
- Velidhoodhigga lagoon for Alif Alif Bodufolhudhoo (April 15)
- Maafaru lagoon for Alif Dhaal Mahibadhoo (April 16)
- Vaagaru to Haa Alif Thuraakunu (April 17)
- Boahuraa to Meemu Muli (April 18)
- Kadimmahuraa to Noonu Maafaru (April 15)
