The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that MVR eight million from the grant assistance provided by the Government of India to the Maldives, has been allocated for the coastal protection of Rasdhoo island in Alif Alif atoll.

While the grant assistance for the project comes from the MVR 100 million granted to Maldives by the government of India during former Indian External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj’s visit in March this year, the project in Rasdhoo is to provide the required coastal protection to an area of 179 meters facing severe soil erosion.

The area, the ministry stated, was used as a landfill earlier and waste buried underneath has risen to the surface due to soil erosion. This has caused the water resources to get contaminated and the beach area to become polluted.

The grant assistance aims to conduct high-impact socio-economic development projects across the country, MFA revealed.

Under the grant assistance, so far, the government has provided financial support to a number of development projects across the country some of which include MVR seven million to undertake projects at the Specialized Training School run by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) in Dhaalu Vaanee, over MVR seven million for the construction of the convention center in Alif Alif Ukulhas, and MVR 7,700,000 to purchase and deliver 11 land ambulances to hospitals and health centers across the country.

Other projects include MVR 8,000,000 to procure outdoor fitness equipment to be installed in 61 islands across the Maldives, MVR 12,001,056 to construct and equip six classrooms in Noonu Lhohi and Raa Kinolhas, as well as MVR 7,469,465 to establish emergency medical services in Haa Alif Ihavandhoo.