Dr Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, has reiterated the government's commitment to President Dr Mohamed Muizz's pledge to provide water and sewerage services to all inhabited islands by the end of 2026. Speaking in parliament, Minister Muththalib conveyed strong confidence in the administration's progress. He noted that, despite inherited delays and project backlogs from the previous government, implementation is advancing steadily.
Several initiatives previously entrusted to Fenaka Corporation had stalled, Minister Muththalib elaborated, after work failed to proceed as required under contract. He added that the agreements were terminated and the projects reassigned to the Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) to enable their continuation.
Among the complications identified were procedural lapses that, according to the minister, had undermined earlier stages. He explained that many projects had been launched without securing permits from the Utility Regulatory Authority and that design plans were often incomplete. In some instances, projects moved forward without the requisite tender board approvals and were unlawfully subcontracted in breach of contract, he added.
Efforts are now under way to rectify these failings, with Dr Muththalib stating that MWSC is actively pursuing the required permits and allocating resources to ensure timely mobilisation. "This concerted drive is aimed at aligning the projects with the president's target of universal water and sewerage coverage by the end of 2026," he said.
As part of a broader infrastructure agenda, the minister addressed the ongoing challenge of servicing reclaimed land that remains disconnected from basic utilities. Since 2010, he noted, numerous reclaimed areas across various islands have yet to be integrated into utility grids. The government, he said, has incorporated these zones into a consolidated project financed through contractor or loan-based arrangements.
Delays also persist on islands where systems have been constructed but not commissioned, which Minister Muththalib attributed to contractors' failure to submit the necessary documentation to the Utility Regulatory Authority. To advance service activation, he said, the construction ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to streamline regulatory procedures.