Lawmakers press government for a permanent fix to flooding

Lawmakers, during the parliamentary sitting this Monday, urged the government to find a permanent solution to the issue of flooding in Maldivian islands.

Several Maldivian islands suffered major damages in the torrential rain and resultant flooding which affected the country last week.

Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir filed an emergency motion at the Parliament this Monday asking for a thorough assessment of the damages and a solution to the problem.

Addressing the Parliament upon acceptance of his emergency motion, Jabir declared “I have never doubted the 19th Parliament is indeed a fantastic Parliament”.

Expressing concern over the damage to residential properties from the heavy rain and flooding, Jabir said that both the government and the Parliament needed to work together to solve the problem.

Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa noted that there were several islands which are repeatedly exposed to flooding during Hulhangu Monsoon every year. He said the problem needed a permanent solution.

“I believe, we, through this Parliament, must work to find a permanent solution to this problem. Instead of talking about this after it rains, floods and damages property, we need to decide on the necessary changes to government policies for preemptive action,” said Easa.

He said the authorities needed to identify the islands prone to flooding and install water drainage systems on the islands.

L. Fonadhoo MP Moosa Siraj, too, noted that flooding was a recurrent problem for which no solution has been produced to date.

He also expressed concern over lack of a proper policy for compensation to private citizens for damage to property from flood damage.

“The solution to this rain, in my opinion, is to establish a mechanism at every atoll to attend to such damages under a decentralized system,” said Siraj.

ISLANDS DAMAGED DUE TO FLOODING

Islands in L. Atoll and Th. Atoll had suffered the most damage due to the rain and flooding which affected Maldives last week. In addition to property damage, the flooding destroyed multiple household and electronic items and caused sewage contamination in several of the islands.

Speaker of Parliament, President Mohamed Nasheed disclosed information on some of the islands in L. Atoll which suffered flood damage.

• L. Kunahandhoo – 10 residential properties
• L. Fonadhoo – 2 residential properties
• L. Maamendhoo – 200 residential properties
• L. Maavah – 3 residential properties
• L. Hithadhoo – 30 residential properties

G. A. Vilingili as well several other islands from the Huvadhu Atoll also suffered damage due to flooding.