The Maldivian government will be enacting completed building regulations by February 15th, the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure has said.
Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam gave a press conference on Tuesday, where he said that that the regulations have been formed after keen discussion with construction sector experts.
Minister Aslam further said described sub-par safety conditions at sites in capital city Malé to be common knowledge.
The conference marks the inauguration of a three-day construction safety workshop for operators in the local construction sector.
An accident at a local site on December 16th had fatally injured a seven-year-old year girl, which instigated public scrutiny and discussion of safety conditions at the sites.
The government revealed that building regulations had not been completed as per laws passed by the former president Abdulla Yameen’s administration, and a public interest case was filed to cease all construction at local sites under the regulations are completed.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had ordered an inspection of construction sites in the capital, which was delegated to the Planning Ministry, Housing Ministry, the Malé City Council, and the Maldives National Defence Force.
The City Council told RaajjeMV on Tuesday that 473 sites have been inspected and their findings have been forwarded to the President’s Office. Council member Ahmed Zameer said that they had in fact ceased work at construction sites and ensure their adherence to safety regulations.
