Parliament rejects motion warning of dangers of transferring burnt waste to Kunburudhoo

The Parliament on Wednesday rejected an emergency motion submitted by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), warning of the environmental and public health risks of transferring the waste that burned in a large fire at the waste disposal site in K. Thilafushi to HDh. Kunburudhoo.

The motion was presented on Wednesday morning by Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad (Fitte), the deputy leader of MDP’s parliamentary group.

However, the motion was rejected with a majority vote of 27-7.

The large fire at the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) site in Thilafushi broke out on July 19. Firefighters worked through the night, and managed to put out the fire the next morning.

WAMCO decided to transfer the burnt waste to the waste transfer station under construction in Kunburudhoo.

In his motion, Ziyad noted that the waste transfer station under construction in Kunburudhoo does not currently even have a mechanism in place to safely manage leachate, meaning that the toxic ash from the burnt waste would contaminate the soil and water.

He noted that Kunburudhoo is a natural habitat for Indian black turtle, locally known as kanzu kahanbu, which is a protected species in the Maldives.

Ziyad warned the toxic waste transferred from Thilafushi would contaminate the area and endanger turtles, putting it at risk of extinction.

He warned that the leachate could destroy the environment, harm the farming industry, and cause irrevocable damages.

Ziyad warned the move poses serious threats to the environment, and the public health of the people who reside in the region.