Haveeru 2008-02-20 Residents file complaints about trimming of magoo trees in Hulhu-Male -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | DATE: 2008-02-20 | PRINT | BOOKMARK Some residents of Hulhu-Male' has filed complaints regarding the trimming and cutting down of magoo trees (Scaevola sericea or Goodeniacea) from the shores and other parts of the island. A resident of Hulhu-Male' said on Tuesday that the Hulhu-Male' Development Corporation was cutting down the magoo trees growing between Dhiraagu building and the inhabited areas of the island beginning yesterday. "There were a lot of magoo trees near the shore,' he said. "The trees had grown to a height of around eight to nine feet but now they are being cut down and trimmed. Even now when it gets windy it's impossible to stay indoors since our houses are very near the beach. Now that they've cut down the trees which provide shelter from the wind the sand and dust are blowing right into our houses. Some of the trees had been stripped of all the leaves and only the roots were left behind. It's going to be very difficult for some residents.' Another resident said that because the trees near the beach had been cut and trimmed, those residents living in houses near the beach will have a lot of problem with the salt water blowing into their house by the wind. "An area of around 390 metres has been destroyed,' the man said. "Our houses are almost next to the beach and the doors and windows are made of aluminium. There is bound to be problems. I even contacted the HDC regarding this. The person who answered said that the trees were being cut down due to security reasons. I think that you can enforce security measures without cutting down the trees.' The Director of HDC Suhail Ahmed said that the main reason the trees in the areas were being cut down was because they were growing wild and the areas were turning into jungles. "We just wanted to clear up the area because the trees were just growing wild now,' he said. "And there is the problem of people throwing their garbage into the areas. We can only look after the trees if they are at a manageable size and amount. However these trees will grow shoots and fill out very quickly. This is not a permanent thing.'

The driver of the car shows the gas cannister stored in the trunk of the car. The Minister of Environment, Energy and Water Ahmed Abdulla has welcomed the fact that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was being used to power a taxi for the first time in Maldives.

State Trading Organization (STO) has decreased the price of diesel and kerosene by Rf0.50 and petrol by Rf0.25 as of Sunday.

TB awareness programs have been conducted in the islands of Addu atoll to coincide with the World Tuberculosis Day. The World Tuberculosis Day is 24th of March.

Royal Island Resort and Spa has donated 1000 coconut trees to the Hulhu-Male' greening project, the resort has said.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued a travel warning to Maldivians traveling to Thailand to be aware that Cholera was spreading swiftly in the country. The warning issued by the DPH advised travelers to Thailand to wash and thoroughly clean all vegetables before consuming them and to boil or chlorinate water before drinking. The DPH also advised travelers to have their meals while it was fresh and hot, to ensure that that fish was properly cooked before eating, and to thoroughly clean and wash your hands after using the toilet or before handling any food stuffs. In case of diarrhea, the DPH also advised travelers to seek medical attention immediately. Cholera is an infectious gastroenteritis caused by a bacterium. Transmission to humans occurs through the process of ingesting contaminated water or food. In its most severe forms, cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known, and a healthy person may become hypotensive within an hour of the onset of symptoms; infected patients may die within three hours if treatment is not provided.

The French Government has given a loan of