Protest held against spread of smell from waste barge

A group of people of Vilimale’ have held a protest today, calling on authorities to solve the problem of the stench coming from the waste barge carrying garbage from Male’ to Thilafushi. Protesters claimed that the stench had spread over a large region including the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal area.

The protest started at around 15:00 today in front of the barge.

Protesters called on the government and the City Council to find solutions to the difficulties being faced as a result of the stench from the barge spreading over a large region in Male’ including the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal area.

They said that the bad smell had caused health problems for several people, and demanded a permanent solution to this problem.

A key participant of the protest, Vilimaafannu MP Ahmed Nihan Hassan Manik said that the relevant authorities had been requested solutions to the serious problems being faced by the people of Vilimale’ as a result of the stench. He said that as the requests had not resulted in any solution, the only thing left to do is protest.

“There doesn’t seem to be any ‘legal eye’ in this country that sees this problem. We voted for a four-year budget, which included the money required for waste management. I don’t see any reason why Finance Ministry shouldn’t release this money to the City Council. When this problem causes breathing problems for people, and serious health problems, where are their rights?” he said.

Nihan said that the people of Vilimale’ had put up with this difficult situation for four months, and that the government should work with City Council in finding a permanent solution to this problem.

A female participant of the protest told Sun that her children had had to be treated for vomiting and diarrhoea due to the stench.

“When we took our children to the doctor after they started vomiting and having diarrhoea, the doctor said that the problem started in the respiratory system. We didn’t know what to think, and then we realised it’s because of the stench from this barge. This has become a serious inconvenience. Now we can’t travel there, and we can’t afford not to travel there,” she said.

In 2011, Male’ City Council and Finance Ministry signed a twenty-year agreement with India’s Tatwa Global Renewable Energy for waste management in Male’ using modern resources.

According to this agreement, waste management efforts should have begun mid last year; however, the work never commenced due to disagreements between the government and the City Council.

Nihan said that while Tatwa had not commenced the waste management work, the government and City Council continue to find fault with one another regarding this matter.

Regarding today’s protest, Male’ City Council Member Ibrahim Sujau said that the government should take responsibility for this situation.

He said that every time people protest about the garbage problem, the government provides the council with enough funds for one round of garbage disposal. He said that the council had repeatedly advised the government that this problem will arise.