Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has announced that individuals who have already acquired land for fish and poultry farms will have the opportunity to enter new agreements, even if they adhered to the existing regulations of the previous land allocation system.
Effective from July 10, the Addu City Council has introduced new regulations for operating fish and poultry farms. These regulations categorise land allocation into two types: land allocated without adhering to tender rules and land allocated under tender rules. For land allocated without complying with tender rules, the rent is set at USD 1.94 per square metre, with a maximum plot size of 5,000 square metres.
Residents of Addu can apply for these land categories, with a restriction of one plot per person. Furthermore, land can be allocated for up to three years without following a tender process. The land will be categorised into four types, and businesses registered in the Maldives, including private individual businesses, companies, partnerships, local investment groups, and cooperative societies, are eligible to apply for these allocations.
The existing agreements for land allocated before the new regulations came into effect will be cancelled within three months. Mayor Nizar, speaking to PSM News, stated that these existing agreements will be voided within three months of the new regulations’ implementation. He emphasised that individuals who previously acquired land under the old regulations will be given the chance to enter into new agreements under the updated regulations.
The new regulations stipulate that any leased or sold allocated land without council permission can be confiscated without compensation. Additionally, the council is authorised to impose fines ranging from USD 64.90 to USD 324.30.
These changes are part of the council’s efforts to streamline land allocation processes and ensure that the regulations support sustainable and efficient farming practices in Addu City. The introduction of these new rules aims to create a fair and transparent system for land allocation, benefiting local businesses and the wider community.
