Development has stalled due to a shortage of large armor stones: Minister Muththalib

Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib has cited a shortage of construction aggregates as the reason for the suspension of projects initiated across the country by the previous MDP administration, as well as the current government's failure to launch new development initiatives in the islands.

During Monday's parliamentary sitting, Minister Muththalib was summoned to answer questions from several members regarding the status of numerous stalled development projects.

During the questioning sitting, Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, the Member of Parliament for the Hanimaadhoo constituency, raised inquiries regarding the Hanimaadhoo harbor project. In response, the Minister stated that he did not have the specific details regarding all projects that have been halted.

He further noted that while specific details for those two islands were not immediately available, work on most stalled projects across various islands is currently halted due to a shortage of aggregates. However, improvements in the supply of aggregates are expected starting this month. He added that once the materials are secured, a significant number of projects are positioned for rapid progress and completion.

Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib

The Minister's remarks follow an announcement made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu last January, in which he stated that the government had decided to import rock boulders in bulk to resume stalled development projects across the islands.

President Muizzu revealed that development projects have faced significant delays due to challenges in importing rock boulders and other essential construction materials. He noted that while he had previously pledged to facilitate bulk shipments of these materials, the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East has created substantial logistical hurdles.

India remains one of the primary suppliers of construction aggregates to the Maldives. Despite the current administration's disparaging rhetoric and diplomatic hostility toward its neighbor, India recently granted the Maldives an exceptionally large export quota—surpassing that provided to any other nation. Public outcry is now mounting as the government continues to claim a shortage of aggregates, with citizens accusing the administration of repeatedly misleading the public despite these secured supplies.

Opposition parties continue to assert that the failure to secure stone aggregates from India, despite available channels, is a direct result of the current administration's incompetence. Furthermore, these parties claim that the government is repeatedly using the conflict in the Middle East as a convenient excuse for all its shortcomings.