Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure has stopped issuing permits to conduct any construction in Male’ City.
Speaking in a press conference, State Minister at Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure Akram Kamaaluddeen revealed permits will be issued after discussions with Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Male’ City Council and Maldives Police Service.
Speaking to the media, Mayor of Male’ City Shifa Mohamed highlighted the heavy and continuous construction in the capital city have not been monitored and noted no sufficient importance was given to ensure public safety by the authorities and construction companies.
The decision to stop issuing permits to conduct any construction in Male’ City comes in the wake of a little girl sustaining serious injuries while walking on the pavement next to a construction site. The Bangladeshi girl, whose parents are doctors working in Maldives, sustained serious injuries and is being treated in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
CCTV footage circulated in social media shows a bag of cement falling from a building under construction and striking the girl who was walking on the pavement. The 9-year-old girl was seen collapsing under the weight of the bag. She was immediately taken to IGMH. The hospital had so far informed the girl is in critical condition.
State Minister Akram Kamaaluddeen revealed the construction company was conducting work without attaining the necessary permits. Mayor Shifa Mohamed said the authorities will make sure activities conducted without importance given to public safety, laws and regulations will be put to a stop in Male’ City.
Furthermore, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has ordered an immediate review of safety procedures and inspection of all construction sites in Malé City so that more stringent measures may be put in place for the safety of workers and the general public.