Proposed picnic island draws criticism over lack of natural beach

Members of the public who took part in a public consultation on Tuesday night objected to an artificial picnic island for residents of the capital.

The planning and infrastructure ministry sought public opinion for developing the proposed picnic island on land reclaimed from the Emboodhoo lagoon southwest of Malé. The picnic spot will be developed on one of nine islands reclaimed by Thailand’s Singha Estate for its Crossroads multi-resort project, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced in April.

Seven companies that are developing resorts on the nine artificial islands were contracted in September to develop the picnic island as a corporate social responsibility project. Designating a picnic island for the 140,000 population residing in the overcrowded capital – which lacks natural beaches – was a campaign pledge of President Solih. 

The public consultation meeting on Tuesday night was sparsely attended. Participants reportedly objected to forcing locals to have picnics on an artificial island after leasing all uninhabited natural islands in Malé atoll for high-end resorts.