Minister Muththalib to be summoned to Majlis over stalled water and sewerage projects
Member of Parliament for North Galolhu, Mohamed Ibrahim, has submitted an inquiry seeking details on stalled water and sewerage projects across various islands and their projected resumption dates. As residents face significant hardships due to these delays, the current administration has extended the completion deadline for these essential services to 2027, a move that has drawn widespread concern from local councils and the public over the continued stagnation of these vital infrastructure projects.
Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib speaking at a Majlis sitting. | majlis
A motion has been submitted to summon the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, to Parliament for questioning regarding the suspension of water and sewerage projects across various islands.
The motion to summon Minister Muththalib to Parliament was submitted by the Member for North Galolhu, Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo). In his inquiry, Ibrahim requested clarification regarding stalled water and sewerage projects across various islands. He specifically sought a detailed list of the affected islands, along with the projected dates for the resumption and completion of these works.
As development projects across numerous islands remain stalled, many residents are repeatedly expressing their concerns over the suspension of essential water and sewerage initiatives.
In this regard, the President of the N. Kendhikulhudhoo Council, Mohamed Rauf, stated last February that the official handover of the island's water and sewerage system has been delayed because the Ministry failed to provide the necessary documentation. Similarly, the President of the Velidhoo Council, Athif Hussain, noted earlier this year that the industrial and tourism zones on the island are still without water and sewerage connections. He emphasized that these delays are having a detrimental impact on the island's local economy.
The Member of Parliament for the Kendhoo constituency, Mauroof Zakir, recently highlighted that the residents of Kudarikilu, Dhonfanu, and Kihaadhoo are in urgent need of water and sewerage projects, noting that the communities are currently enduring significant hardships. Similarly, Mohamed Ihusan, an MDP National Congress member for the Kolhufushi constituency, stated that residents remain deeply concerned as the government has failed to provide water, electricity, and sewerage connections to 100 housing units in M. Kolhufushi, more than a year after the units were completed and handed over to the public.
Furthermore, Hassan Abdullah, President of the GDh. Vaadhoo Island Council, stated that the island's water and sewerage project has been fully completed and is now ready for official commissioning. In contrast, the AA. Bodufolhudhoo Council reported that their water and sewerage project has come to a standstill, causing significant hardship for the local residents.
To ensure that water and sewerage systems are established across all Maldivian islands by the end of 2025, the previous MDP administration drafted and passed a specialized bill. However, the current administration has extended the legal deadline for the completion of water and sewerage facilities across all islands to 2027.
On August 11, 2025, Parliament passed a government-proposed bill to extend the legal deadline for establishing water and sewerage systems across all inhabited islands in the Maldives until 2027. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu subsequently ratified the bill on August 18.
The second amendment to the Water and Sanitation Act was passed by the 20th People’s Majlis during the 23rd sitting of its second session for 2025, held on Monday, August 11, 2025.
