The third amendment to the Environment Protection and Preservation Act has been ratified.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the amendment on Sunday, with which it came into immediate effect.

Passed by the People’s Majlis at the 39th sitting of its third session on November 16, the bill has since been publicized in the government gazette.

According to the amendment, specified services are to be provided among services provided by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, to be delegated to the respective administrative divisions belonging to atolls, islands or cities.

Further, it stipulates to specify the procedures to be followed in providing services delegated to the councils by the environment ministry, in the regulations pertaining to the act.

As such, funds, resources and assistance needed by the councils to provide the services will be provided by the ministry, with the regulation made pursuant to the act mandated to specify the manner in which assistance is to be provided.

The regulations relating to the amendment must be drafted and publicized in the government gazette within six months of the amendment coming into effect as well.