Residents of Lhohi island of Noonu atoll have taken to the streets after the state failed to provide an electricity generator promised to them.

Abdulla Saleem, the chair of Lhohi’s island council, said that the island was supposed to receive a 200-kilowatt generator on Friday.

However, the generator they received was the 160-kilowatt generator that had been in use at Maafaru island, also in Noonu atoll.

Saleem said that the council had previously been told that they would receive a new 200-kilowatt generator by the state-operated utilities company Fenaka Corporation as well.

“This is a blatant attempt at deceiving the residents of this island, they must realize that this cannot be done” Saleem said.

Lhohi island’s residents, who make up a population of roughly 900, began protesting on Friday morning at around 9:00, calling on authorities to have the promised generator delivered to them. Protesters had expressed their intention to not pay for electricity services until this demand is met.

Protesters had also threatened the head of the Fenaka’s branch on the island, stating that he would not be allowed to leave Lhohi until the aforesaid demand has been met as well.

He had reportedly sought refuge at the island council’s offices with officers of the police stationed outside for his security. He had managed to leave the island for neighbouring Velidhoo with the officers’ assistance.

The island is currently being powered by two 80-kilowatt generators. Saleem said that these two generators do not produce enough power for the entire island.

The island had reportedly experienced to power outages during the protest as well.