Kulhudhuffushi seeks to add Kunburudhoo to its jurisdiction

Kulhudhuffushi City Mayor Mohamed Athif said on Thursday that transferring the uninhabited island of HDh. Kunburudhoo to the jurisdiction of Kulhudhuffushi would result in major benefits to the northern city, as well as other islands in the region. 

Athif told Sun that the council requested for an uninhabited island to be added to the jurisdiction of Kulhudhuffushi during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s recent visit to the island. 

“Kulhudhuffushi City is a city which now faces a shortage of land. We have no more land to issue, especially for industrial work, farming or tourism,” he said. 

Athif said the council requested the President to either transfer HDh. Keylakunu or Kunburudhoo to the jurisdiction of Kulhudhuffushi.  

Athif said that though the council has yet to receive an update on its request, President Solih did say it would be difficult to transfer Keylakunu to the jurisdiction of Kulhudhuffushi. 

“The island [Keylakunu] is home to Maldives’ largest jungle. And conducting industrial work in the island – given its also environmentally protected – will be very difficult,” he said. 

The council is therefore seeking to add Kunburudhoo to its jurisdiction.

Athif said that transferring Kunburudhoo to Kulhudhuffushi’s jurisdiction will solve the island’s land shortage issue. He said the council also plans to issue land from Kunburudhoo to the entire atoll for farming. 

He said the council plans on developing half of the island as a picnic island, and plans to utilize the island for tourism. 

“I don’t believe the people will benefit if Kunburudhoo were to remain inhabited as it is now,” he said. 

Kulhudhuffushi City is the hub commerce and healthcare in northern Maldives. The city has approximately 9,000 residents, and received visitors from all over the region on a daily basis.