Minister of Environment Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan has assured that water sewerage management projects will commence in Vaavu atoll next year.

He said that water supply projects in Fulidhoo, Felidhoo and Thinadhoo along with a waste management project in Thinadhoo, will commence next year.

The minister said this during Monday's parliament sitting, where he was summoned for questioning regarding the projects announced for the atoll.

Felidhoo constituency MP Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed had proposed to question the minister,and at Monday's sitting he noted that the establishment of a water and waste management system for the islands of Vaavu atoll were budgeted under this year's PSIP projects and that the project would receive further financial support through a loan from India's Exim Bank according to an announcement made on the 28th of March.

However, he said that there has been no further progress since and inquired whether the loan has been approved. The lawmaker He further inquired whether work on the project will begin this year and requested a detailed description of the work completed on the project so far.

In response, the minister said that the Exim Bank loan is confirmed and that Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure had informed that the contract for the project will be awarded during March next year.

He further disclosed that a line of credit of USD 800 million between India and Maldives was signed on 18th March 2019 and that the project falls under this facility.

Additionally, he revealed that a detailed report of the prospective work must be submitted to the Exim Bank as per the loan agreement.