Maamendhoo residents, by themselves, find permanent solution to power outages

Laamu atoll Maamendhoo’s council has stated that the island’s residents have brought a permanent solution to the issue of power outages in the island.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, council president Hussain Habeeb said that the issue of power outages has been an issue for a long time, and that the decision to cut off electricity until a permanent solution is reached was the most difficult decision the residents have had to take thus far, but that it has resulted in a permanent fix.

Authorities on Saturday decided to cut off electricity in the island after residents began protesting outside the power station due to recurring power outages.

The council president said that the generator was given on Saturday night and that the residents had brought it to the island after midnight. He said that the new generator was installed at on Sunday afternoon.

Habeeb said that the 250-Kilowatt generator can provide electricity to the entire island. While three of the generators currently in the island are out of use, they have decided to keep the 160-kilowatt and 180-kilowatt generators and transfer their 400-kilowatt generator to another island.

“Such a quick fix has been brought to this issue with the help of island residents. This is not by any means the courtesy of the government. Residents took the generator to the engine house with complete enthusiasm. I would also like to highlight the work of women. Women helped by preparing a banquet that kept most of them going till the end of the installation” said Habeeb.

Habeeb had previously revealed to RaajjeMV that they have been experiencing recurring power outages for the past four months and which become more frequent on Friday evening. He said that expensive belongings of residents have been damaged such as fridges, air conditioners and televisions.

At the time, Habeeb said “A spare generator is not available in the country. A solution can only be found after a spare is ordered and received. Residents don’t want electricity for just an hour. There is no solution until spare parts for the generator are brought from abroad. I have talked to the official in charge of the atoll, Abdulla Sulaiman. He has said that the order for the parts has been made. It has been fifteen days since the order’s been made. [He said] the parts will be brought in after seven days. While [people’s] belongings are being damaged for the past seven or ten days, we won’t accept giving electricity hour by hour."