Ministry of Environment and Energy has signed an agreement with Indian joint venture company L.E Triveni JV, to establish a water and sewerage system in Naifaru Island of Lhaviyani Atoll and a sewerage system in Veymandoo Island of Thaa Atoll.
The Maldivian government aims to provide 75% of the population of Maldives with fresh water and sewerage systems before the end of the current presidential term. With this aim, government has begun projects to establish clean water and sewerage systems in many parts of the Maldives. The agreement to establish water and sewerage system in Naifaru Island and a sewerage system in Veymandoo Island was signed between Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim and the Managing Director of L.E Triveni JV Viney Kumar Singh.
In an exclusive interview with PSM News Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim said that, the current focus of the government is to develop clean water and sewerage systems in islands which are densely populated.
"Up to now in those islands there is no proper water and sewerage system, so one of the main aim of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom after his verses to give the important service to almost all the islands, especially to the bigger populated islands. With this in mind we have been working to deliver water and sewerage services to all islands especially bigger islands,” Minister Thoriq said.
The Environment Minister also highlighted that the systems which are to be developed in Naifaru and Veymandoo will be completed in 18 months. Under this agreement, sewerage networks and sewerage treatment plants will be developed in both Naifaru and Veymandoo. At the same time, water networks and storage tanks would also be laid in Naifaru Island.
In the press conference held after the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of L.E Triveni JV said that the aim is to complete the projects before the deadline.
"We have very competent team with us and which has quite a big experience in India and outside India. So we will be able to do this projects as timeline stated here that. That is on and second thing our competent team is here and survey team is also coming, we will sit-down with ministry and our consultants, we have our plan. We will discuss our plan. We hope that immediately we will be able to start the work,” Viney Kumar Singh said.
The projects in Naifaru and Veymandoo are funded by Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OPID) and would cost 148.9 million Maldivian rufiyaa and is expected to be completed by October 2018.