External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday handed over to the Maldives a massive water and sanitation project on 28 islands from India worth around Rs 923 crore (US$110 million), which will cover seven per cent of the archipelago nation’s population.
Jaishankar, who is here on a three-day official visit, virtually inaugurated the projects at a function held at the office of President Mohammad Muizzu here.
Jaishankar described the water and sanitation projects on 28 islands, undertaken under an Indian credit facility by the Exim Bank of India, as “the largest climate adaptation project implemented in the Maldives with international cooperation”.
“It is also worth noting that the completion of this project strengthens the efforts of the Government of Maldives to reach its Sustainable Development Goals through the establishment of climate resilient and cost-effective water and sewerage systems,” Jaishankar said.
“Glad to meet Dr S Jaishankar today and join him in officially handing over water and sewerage projects across 28 islands in the Maldives,” Muizzu posted on X after the ceremony.
He said, “I thank the Government of India, especially Prime Minister @narendramodi, for their unfailing support to the Maldives. Our enduring partnership continues to grow stronger, bringing our countries even closer through cooperation in security, development and cultural exchange. Together, we can build a brighter, more prosperous future for the region.”
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the project will provide safe drinking water to several islands and introduce sewerage systems to several other islands and will directly impact the lives of over 28,000 Maldivians.
A statement from President Muizzu’s office said: “With the inauguration of 28 facilities today, 28,298 beneficiaries have now received these essential services, representing seven per cent of the total population of the Maldives.”
During the ceremony, Jaishankar officially handed over the completed projects, including water supply facilities on 22 islands, sewerage facilities on two islands and combined water supply and sewerage facilities on four islands, to Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, a statement issued by President Muizzu’s office said.
Jaishankar said, “The basis of our partnership is the mutual benefit of our people.”
“This is manifest in the diverse areas of our cooperation – health, education, large infrastructure development, defence, maritime, agriculture, banking and adaptation to climate resilience,” he said.
He said India is striving to expand this list so that the bilateral multifaceted partnership can be taken forward to meet the aspirations of the people of both countries.
India’s development partnership is driven by the needs and priorities of the people and Government of Maldives and is a judicious mix of grants, loans, budgetary support, capacity building and training assistance, the MEA statement quoted Jaishankar as saying.
Jaishankar also highlighted that India is trying to expand the scope and benefits of development cooperation.
“We are mindful of the challenges posed by climate change, particularly for small island developing States like the Maldives,” he said, “which are even more vulnerable to the uncertainties of rising sea levels.”
“One of the immediate concerns is the availability of and access to freshwater resources,” he said, stressing that India’s aim has been to provide ecologically sustainable low-cost solutions to its development partners.
“Low-cost solutions mean that development partners will not only have access to potable water, but will also have the capacity to treat sewage, protecting the delicate ecology of these islands and atolls,” Jaishankar said.
He said the projects unveiled in Maldives are in line with India’s own initiatives ‘Har Ghar Jal’ and ‘Swachh Bharat’ meaning ‘Water to every home’ and ‘Clean India’.
The buildings (under the project) are also equipped with solar power, which supports the island grids, and with a total funding of US$ 110 million, it is the largest climate adaptation initiative implemented in Maldives with international cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs release said.
“I am sure this will improve the lives of women living on these islands, who bear the main burden of fetching clean water,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar said that India-Maldives development cooperation reflects the motto of our partnership – ‘Envisioned by Maldives, Realised by India’.
Addressing President Muizzu, Jaishankar said that “our joint efforts, our joint activities and our shared vision” will prove to be an important milestone in the journey of both our countries.