MP Ziyad ejected from Parliament chambers for protesting against burnt waste transfer to Kunburudhoo

The deputy leader of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s parliamentary group was ejected from the Parliament chambers on Wednesday, after he launched a protest over the decision to transfer the waste that burned in a large fire at the waste disposal site in K. Thilafushi to HDh. Kunburudhoo.

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.

Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad (Fitte), who had an emergency motion he submitted warning of the environmental and public health risks on the move rejected earlier on Wednesday, brought up the issue again during the debate on a bill to amend the Utility Regulatory Authority Act.

“This is Hulhangu [Monsoon] now. Dumping the waste there amid these strong winds… We asked the Parliament to think about the people of Kulhudhuffushi, Nolhivaram, Nolhivaranfaru, and Hanimaadhoo, and even Hirimaradhoo, where people continue to live even though it is now officially an uninhabited island. We asked you to stop this,” he said.

In his motion, Ziyad had pointed out that the waste transfer station under construction in Kunburudhoo did not 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.

The motion was rejected with a majority vote of 27-7.

Ziyad expressed concern that ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) lawmakers representing constituencies in HDh. Atoll had also voted to reject the motion.

“We are appealing to the government; we are pleading with them not to gather the burnt hazardous waste to the center of HDh. Atoll. We will do everything in our power to stop this,” he said.

Ziyad continued to protest against the plan, moving from his seat to in front of the desk of the presidency.

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem, who was presiding the sitting, asked Ziyad to maintain order, before eventually naming and ejecting him from the chambers.

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

He 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 cause irrevocable environmental damage, and endanger public health.

Kulhudhuffushi City’s mayor Mohamed Athif, too, has expressed concern over the decision.