Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has revealed that USD1.9 million from the Green Fund have been allocated to local councils to solve waste management issues.
Speaking at the ceremony held to handover the funds to local councils, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna said that waste management is the one of the biggest environmental issues in the Maldives. She noted that the government has worked with local councils in efforts to solve the issue. She, however, said it is not going according to plan due to financial challenges faced by the councils. As such, she said that the government has provided financial assistance through the Green Fund to solve the issue.
Using the Green Fund, the government will provide financial assistance to councils based on the population, households, island size and waste generation. The allocated funds will also be utilised to establish essential waste disposal facilities.
The government has divided the country into seven regions and plans to establish modern waste management centres in three of these regions in order to solve the waste issue. The Green Fund is actively contributing substantial funds towards infrastructure development in the Maldives.