Jaishankar launches Maldives' largest India-funded sanitation project

Jaishankar, who is here on a three-day official visit, virtually inaugurated the projects at an event at President Mohammad Muizzu’s office here.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday handed over to the Maldives a massive water and sanitation project worth approximately Rs 923 crore (USD 110 million) funding from India at 28 islands covering seven per cent of the population of the archipelagic nation.

Jaishankar, who is here on a three-day official visit, virtually inaugurated the projects at an event at President Mohammad Muizzu’s office here.

The project will provide safe drinking water to many islands and introduce a sewerage system in several other islands and has directly impacted the lives of over 28,000 Maldivians, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

A statement from President Muizzu’s office said: “With the inauguration of 28 facilities today, 28,298 of the intended beneficiaries have now received these essential services, covering seven per cent of the total population of the Maldives.”