New project to resolve Malé flooding issues

Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has initiated a new project in partnership with Road Development Corporation (RDC) to resolve the issue of flooding in Malé City, yesterday.

The project was inaugurated today at the West Park area of the capital city, where the most severe effects of flooding are experienced with heavy rainfall. Three ministers participated in the event, including Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib, Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon and Cities and Local Government Minister Adam Shareef.

Speaking at the event, Minister Muththalib said that this project aims to provide temporary relief to the flooding issues in Malé, ahead of the road development initiatives.

"MNDF [Maldives National Defence Force] works very hard when it floods due to rain. They face big challenges too. As such, the most impacted area is here [West Park area]. That's because of how the roads are made in this area. It's [made in such a way] that all the water collects here," the Minister said.

"The work we're starting today is being carried out by us [Infrastructure Ministry] in partnership with MNDF and RDC to find a temporary solution to these flooding issues. To attempt to provide relief to the solution, especially in this area, ahead of the June/July storms," Minister Muththalib detailed.

The temporary solution would be to cut out a sea wall to create an outlet for the water that collects in the area, and supplement with manual pumping when necessary, he explained.

Highlighting the gravity of the flooding issue, Minister Muththalib highlighted that Kan'baa Aisaarani Hin'gun and other areas of Malé which area impacted will also be addressed and that the Ministry is working on procuring bigger pumps required for the roads of Malé, as well as on upgrading the existing pumps on Ameenee Magu.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Adam Shareef further added that the government is prioritising efforts to mitigate the effects of the bad weather resulting from climate change.

With these temporary measures in motion, the government recently announced that Malé roads will be developed with full funding from the Chinese government.

Since arriving from his trip to China last December, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stressed that the administration would prioritise road construction in Malé from the USD 130 million aid offered by China.