National policy on coastal protection currently under development: Minister

Minister of Environment Ali Shareef has announced that efforts are underway to formulate a national policy dedicated to the protection of the Maldives' coastlines.

The Minister made these remarks during a press conference held at the President's Office on Tuesday.

The Minister stated that efforts are underway to formulate a national policy on coastal protection, with 65 percent of the work now complete.

Furthermore, the Minister stated that practical work on coastal protection is currently underway. According to the Minister, related projects are also being carried out in Laamu Atoll.

Work is currently underway to formulate a national policy on coastal protection, with 65 percent of the process now complete. Concurrently, practical efforts to implement coastal protection measures are moving forward as a top priority. These projects are being carried out in Meedhoo in Addu Atoll, as well as three islands in Laamu Atoll: Gan, Isdhoo, and Fonadhoo. Within the scope of these practical works, 75 percent of the detailed design phase has been finalized.

Minister of Environment Ali Shareef

The Minister's remarks come amid persistent concerns and complaints regarding the government's failure to complete Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for certain development projects. It has been specifically noted that the government frequently bypasses the EIA process for projects launched in the lead-up to elections.

Concerns have emerged regarding the current administration's repeated amendments to environmental regulations, which have allowed specific government projects to proceed under special permits. However, it was noted that despite these domestic actions, the Maldives continues to advocate strongly for environmental protection on the international stage and remains active in signing global environmental cooperation agreements.