‘Water Supply & Sewerage project’ Commences on the Occasion of World Water Day

This World Water Day, Maldives commences the mega project of developing water and sewage facilities across 34 islands in the country. Signed between Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and four Indian Companies, this project is financed under the USD 800 million Line of Credit offered to the Maldives by the Indian government. It is also the most geographically dispersed of the 9 mega infrastructure projects being undertaken under the LoC.  

The islands chosen for the project are Baarah, Vaikaradhoo, Funadhoo, Lhaimagu, Manadhoo, Kurendhoo, Thoddoo, Maalhos, Gaafaru, Kaashidhoo, Dhangethi, Dhigurah, Felidhoo, Fulidhoo, Thinadhoo, Bileiydhoo, Dharanboodhoo, Bandidhoo, Kolhufushi, Maduvvari, Muli, Meedhoo, Hirilandhoo, Gan, Isdhoo, Maamendhoo, Maabaidhoo, Dhaandhoo, Gemanafushi, Maamendhoo, Madaveli, Faresmaathoda and Hoandeddhoo.  

The project includes rainwater collection and treatment, sea water desalination and supply, and sewage collection, treatment and disposal facilities to be developed. An estimated 35,000 people from 34 different islands will directly benefit from the developments and have access to uninterrupted and safe water supply. On the other hand, neighboring islands who are affected by water shortages during the dry season can also now depend on these islands for timely water supply.  

The project aligns with the current government’s pledge to deliver safe and clean water and proper sewage networks to every island by the end of his 5-year term. As it expands across 16 Atolls extensively, the decentralization efforts by the government also will be assisted.  

In total, the project is estimated to save over MVR 18 million across various aspects every year. This includes MVR 337 on bottled water purchases, MVR 925 on emergency water supply, MVR 629 on health services related to unclean water and MVR 698 in growth of productivity per household every month.