The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has announced that water systems have been installed in 133 islands and sewerage systems in 146 islands, out of 187 inhabited islands in the Maldives.
The Ministry provided the update while addressing the Environment and Climate Change Committee of Parliament, which is reviewing the Water and Sewerage Act Amendment Bill.
Speaking to the committee, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment Ajwad Musthafa, said that water systems are currently being installed in 56 islands, while sewerage systems are being installed in 43 islands.
According to Ajwad, the installation of water system has been completed so far in 133 islands and sewerage works in 146 islands. He assured that the projects in remaining islands will be completed before 2027, the deadline proposed in the amendment bill.
"The five-year period set out in the amendment is intended to establish these systems as a public service. On residential islands, such services will always need to be continuously upgraded,” Ajwad said.
Speaking to the committee, Fenaka Corporation Limited’s Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Arif said the company is currently upgrading the water and sewerage systems in 98 islands. The service establishment works will be completed by 2027 as aimed, and the upgrading works are expected to reach completion by 2028, he said.
"There are 2,000 connections to be made in 98 islands. There are also islands that require maintenance,“ Arif said.
The proposed amendment to the Water and Sewerage Act mandates that every inhabited island in the Maldives must have an adequate water and sewerage system by 2027 at the latest.