Rasmadhoo water supply contaminated; Council President Asif urges swift completion of water project, which was 70 percent finished under previous administration

The President of the R. Rasmadhoo Island Council, Mohamed Asif, has stated that the island's groundwater has become severely contaminated and saline, emphasizing the urgent need to complete the ongoing water project to ensure residents have access to clean water.

Speaking on Friday's "Fashaairu" program, Asif stated that the water system project on the island was initiated during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, with approximately 70 percent of the work completed by the time the government changed.

However, Asif expressed concern over the situation, noting that work has come to a standstill following the change in government.

Reflecting on the progress made by the time the government changed, Asif noted that road excavation and the installation of all pipelines, with the exception of the rainwater line, had been completed. He further stated that all work on the RO plant building has also been finalized. Asif added that the project is now nearing completion, with the remaining tasks involving the installation of the RO plant and the connection of water services to individual households.

The most urgent issue requiring immediate resolution is the establishment of a water system. This project was initially mobilized on December 4, 2021, under the previous administration. Although work had been progressing, it remains unfinished to this day. By the time the government changed, approximately 70 percent of the project had been completed; however, various factors have since prevented the work from resuming. The contract with the original contractor, Micro, was terminated around the middle of last year. About 15 days ago, the project was officially handed over to Altec Maldives. There is now hope that a solution will be reached shortly, as the lack of a water system has brought local development efforts to a standstill.

Mohamed Asif, President of the Rasmaadhoo Island Council

Asif stated that all of the island's development projects are linked to the establishment of a water system, and the current lack of progress is significantly hindering these efforts. He specifically noted that this situation is having a severe negative impact on local tourism. Furthermore, he highlighted that the water now emits a foul odor and confirmed that the groundwater across all areas of the island has become contaminated.