Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has stated the government will begin the fieldwork for all proposed water and sewerage projects next year.
Presenting the State Budget 2022 to the Parliament of the Maldives, Finance Minister Ameer said providing clean water and establishing sewerage systems in all inhabited islands is a key pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He said the government has allocated USD 62 million in the proposed state budget for 2022 to fulfill the pledge. The government has faced challenges in fulfilling the pledge following the COVID-19 pandemic but aims to complete all proposed water and sewerage projects next year, he noted.
The proposed state budget has also allocated funds to complete ongoing water and sewerage projects. As such, USD 8.5 million has been allocated to begin new water and sewerage projects while USD 5 million has been allocated for ongoing projects. The projects also include those funded by the line of credit from EXIM Bank of India and loans from OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
Minister of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam has said water and sewerage projects are currently ongoing in 22 islands and other projects are in the bidding process.