Police: HRCM’s statement on Dhoonidhoo water quality issue misleading

Maldives Police Service said on Tuesday that the statement released by Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) regarding the decision to take action for failure to provide clean water to detainees at the police custodial in K. Dhoonidhoo is misleading to the public.

Following an inspection of Dhoonidhoo Custodial, HRCM found the water supplied through the desalination plant in the island contain high quantities of coliform bacteria. HRCM announced on Monday that the police failed to take corrective measures within the timeframe provided by the commission, and that the commission will be taking action for the failure in accordance with the Human Rights Commission Act.

In a statement on Tuesday, the police described the press statement released by HRCM as misleading to the public.

The police said they are working on replacing water pipes, and establishing a chlorination system and ultraviolet filtration system at Dhoonidhoo as a matter of high priority, but is facing delays due to requiring written permission from Finance Ministry before procuring assets as well as the public holidays.

But the work remains in progress despite the setbacks, said the police.

The police said they have made temporary arrangements to provide detainees at Dhoonidhoo with bottled water until the work can be done.

Water is supplied to Dhoonidhoo using a desalination plant. The water is used by detainees, as well as police officers stationed at the custodial and visitors.

HRCM said that is clear based on the expertise provided by Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and Health Protection Agency (HPA) that the water supplied in Dhoonidhoo does not meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and is not fit for use to bath and fulfill other basic needs, and can cause skin disease.

HRCM instructed the police to cease the supply of the contaminated water and make alternate arrangements to provide clean water, and provide details of the arrangements to the commission in writing within 72 hours on Wednesday, October 27. HRCM, in a follow-up inspection of Dhoonidhoo on Monday found that no such arrangements were made, and that sufficient work hadn’t been done to take immediate corrective measures.