MTCC commissioned to clear garbage area for MVR 21 million

The Government has commissioned Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Plc (MTCC) to clear the garbage dumping area in Male’ for an amount of MVR 21 million.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the MTCC Building today. Speaking at the ceremony, Environment Minister Dr. Mariyam Shakeela said that MTCC will be required to empty the overfilled garbage dumping area number one, within a period of three months.

Dr. Shakeela said that MTCC was handed the project following due discussion by the cabinet and that the cabinet views the issue as a “national disaster.”

While the students of Imaaduddin School, located near the vicinity of the garbage dumping area, have suffered health problems due to the smoke and fumes originating from the dump, Minister Shakeela said that the government has continued to attend the situation.

She said that the handover of the project was not related to the protests staged by the parents of Imaaduddin School regarding the issue.

“This did not happen as a result of the protests. Before that, two days before the event we tried to hold meetings with the City Council, and could not. Then we were able to meet them yesterday. Finally, the President said to treat the issue as a national disaster and deal with it. When the President asked for us and appealed to us, we have come to deal with this,” the Minister said.

Dr. Shakeela also said that they had held discussions with the Environment Protection Agency and Male’ City Council to figure out ways to manage the waste situation in Male' after the garbage dumping area has been cleared.

The agreement was signed on behalf of MTCC by CEO of the company Dr. Ahmed Adham Abdulla. He said that the City Council and the Defence Ministry have assured their support in clearing the garbage dumping area.

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed, Vice President Mohamed Waheed Deen and senior government officials visited the garbage dumping area today.