Govt extend period to improve streetlight safety measures

The Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar on Wednesday said that the duration given to council authorities to fix streetlights has been extended.

Shareef said this at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Male' City Council members. 

At the ceremony, the minister said that council authorities faced the plight of power cuts if they did not rectify the streetlights within a 30-day period.

Fenaka Corporation issued the warning after the utility provider reviewed the incident of a youngster's electrocution and eventual death in Raa atoll Ungoofaaru due to a faulty connection in a streetlight.

The duration Fenaka first gave to council authorities, first in May, has been extended on two separate occasions, with the most recent given on August 21st.

Shareef previously said the entire initiative, at a nationwide scale, will incur MVR 85 million. He had said back then that the authorities would be discussing extending the period to fix the issues as well.

After discussions between relevant state bodies, stakeholders, and the Utility Regulatory Authority (URA), the period has been extended by six months.

"The ministry is working alongside Fenaka Corporation, URA, and the Finance Ministry to formulate a three- or six-month action plan to solve power cuts across from streetlights," Shareef said.

Shareef further assured the government's full support in issues of public interest.

Candidates of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) secured wins at the Male' City Council by-election held earlier on July 20th. Despite the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) contending for the seats, they failed to secure any making it the third consecutive loss since the presidential election last year.

The elected members to Male' City Council are:

• Central Machchangolhi Councilor: Fathimath Ishan
• Hulhumale' Councilor: Ali Aiman
• West-Henveiru Councilor: Fathimath Shaufa Saleem

While the newly elected council members swore oaths of office on Wednesday, the seats became vacant when their previous members were elected to the parliament during the 20th parliamentary election.