Vaavu Atoll Council has filed a case with the police over resorts in the atoll dumping food waste into the sea.
Earlier on Sunday, Vaavu Atoll Council's President, Sujau Ali posted a video on social media showing resort staff dumping waste into the sea.
Speaking to AVAS, Sujau Ali said out of the five operational resorts in the atoll, two resorts continuously dump waste in the sea: Alimatha Resort and Dhiggiri Resort. The same company runs both resorts.
Sujau said while tourism is the primary source of income for the people of the atoll, the atoll council would not standby while the atoll's natural beaches get polluted due to the waste dumped into the sea. A case has therefore been filed with Vaavu Atoll Police Station and relevant authorities in the capital, he said.
'We have spoken to those running Alimatha and Dhiggiri Resort on multiple occasions. They could not give us another option rather than dumping waste in the sea. This is an issue we are very concerned about,' he said.
The council President further noted that although there are laws and regulations in place to stop the dumping of waste into the sea, they are not adequately enforced.
Fifteen years ago, the government permitted resorts to throwing food waste and perishable goods to the sea. However, after councils began lodging complaints about the act, the regulations were revised such that it was no longer allowed.
However, if there are no designated areas near a resort to throw the waste, the new regulations do not prohibit them from throwing perishable goods into the sea. In throwing garbage in this manner, the waste must be taken out of the atoll area such that the wind and current do not carry it towards the islands. A first violation carries a fine between MVR 1,000 to 5000, and a second violation carries a fine between MVR 50,000 and 100,000.
