Maldives launched the India-funded coastal protection project of Rasdhoo, Alif Alif Atoll, on Saturday afternoon.
Valued at a total of MVR 13.3 million, Rasdhoo's coastal protection is funded under the grant assistance extended by India, with MVR 8 million allocated for the project. The government of Maldives will contribute MVR 5.3 million.
The project was inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, with Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam, and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)'s CEO Adam Azim in attendance.
According to the foreign ministry, an area of 214 meters facing severe coastal erosion will be protected under the project. Previously used as a landfill, the surrounding beach area and water sources are currently polluted and contaminated due to the resurfacing of buried coastal erosion waste.
The project also includes beach replenishment such as cleaning up of waste debris and sand replacement, and the construction of a groyne field. The ministry noted that authorities had consulted the island council and people of Rasdhoo to formulate the scope and design of the project.
Rasdhoo's coastal protection is contracted to MTCC and will be undertaken under the supervision of the planning ministry.
India agreed to provide USD 6.9 million (MVR 100 million) as grant assistance to Maldives during the visit of India's late Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in March 2019. The aim of the grant assistance is to conduct high-impact socio-economic development projects across the country.
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