Male' City Council penalizes and fines 11 vessels illegally moored in Villimale' lagoon

The Male' City Council has penalized and fined a total of 11 vessels between yesterday and today for the unauthorized use of the Villimale' lagoon.

The Male' City Council has imposed a fine of MVR 500 on each vessel, totaling MVR 5,500 in penalties. According to the Council, this action was taken against vessels that had been left idle for an extended period, disrupting the harbor's organization. The Council noted that these vessels were docked in violation of established regulations, causing significant inconvenience to other authorized harbor users.

The Council stated that these measures are part of ongoing efforts to provide a permanent solution to the challenges faced by residents and travelers using the Villimale' lagoon. The initiative aims to streamline lagoon management and curb unauthorized usage. Under the Decentralization Act, the regulations for managing Male' and Villimale' harbors, and the lagoon fee collection policy passed during the Council's fourth term, these enforcement actions are being carried out by tagging vessels with stickers. This process follows a grace period granted to vessel owners to remove their craft voluntarily.

The Male' City Council has urged all parties to strictly adhere to and respect the established rules and regulations governing the use of the harbor. The Council further reminded the public that it will continue to take stringent action against those who utilize the harbor in violation of these regulations.