The Ministry of Environment has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 10 island councils to establish waste management centers across the islands, with the island councils set to play a major role in the development projects under the supervision of the Environment Ministry.

The projects were assigned to the island councils under the government's policy to have development projects priced at under MVR 5 million to be assigned to island and city councils for implementation. The biggest motive behind this policy is to have island and city councils play a greater role in executing the development projects initiated across islands.

The islands where waste management centers will be established under the Memorandums of Understanding with the Environment Ministry and island councils are HA. Ihavandhoo, HA. Dhihdhoo, HA. Vashafaru, HA. Utheemu, HA. Naivaadhoo, HDh. Hanimaadhoo, HDh. Nolhivaranfaru, HDh. Nellaidhoo, Sh. Narudhoo and Gdh. Thinadhoo.

The cumulative value of the Memorandums of Understanding signed between the Environment Ministry and island councils of these 10 islands is MVR 9,144,896. Under the initiative to establish waste management centers on the islands, island councils are set to undertake the main role in initiating and implementing the projects on the islands. As per the MoUs signed, the island councils will be tasked with assigning a tender contractor for the establishment of the centers, in addition to signing all agreements in relation to the project, and conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) under the framework set to do so prior to constructing the waste management centers.

The Environment Ministry will be overseeing and monitoring progress on the projects, in addition to ensuring that the budget to continue operations is transferred regularly to island councils. As such, the councils will also be tasked with settling payments with contractors and other parties as needed to establish the waste management centers on their respective islands.

The Ministry of Environment has revealed that once work on the waste management centers is complete for the ten islands of HA. Ihavandhoo, HA. Dhihdhoo, HA. Vashafaru, HA. Utheemu, HA. Naivaadhoo, HDh. Hanimaadhoo, HDh. Nolhivaranfaru, HDh. Nellaidhoo, Sh. Narudhoo and Gdh. Thinadhoo, the ownership of the centers and the equipment used there will be handed over to the island councils through transferring of assets.