The self-elevating bridge platform brought for the construction of Thila-male’ bridge by Indian company Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. was grounded on a Villimale reef on the 16th of August last year, causing severe damage - the penalty for AFCONS has been under review for four months now. 

When the platform was removed 12 days after the grounding, Villimale reef had suffered great damage. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) stated that holes approximately 10 feet deep were formed in the reef. 

EPA spent the following three months assessing the damage and preparing a survey. However, AFCONS claimed that the survey was unreliable and asked for a chance to make their own survey, which was approved by EPA. 

While AFCONS was supposed to be fined 69.4 million rufiyaa for this, the decision has been under review since December of 2022. 

Issues like this should be handled directly by the environment minister under the penalties and compensations for Environmental Damage Regulations. While there are four set conditions under which these situations should be reviewed, there is no set time period for the decision-making process. 

The Villimale reef has been damaged severely for 8 months, and AFCONS is yet to take any action. No information has been given regarding the situation under review by the Environment Ministry.

When approached by “Voice” regarding this issue, Ibrahim Naeem, the Senior Executive Director of the ministry of environment, stated that the situation is under review, and that Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, is handling it. No further information was provided regarding this. 

While it is being questioned by many as to whether AFCONS will be penalized due to its strong connections to the Maldivian government, the government has stated that a penalty will be given regardless of the country. 

In 2015, a barge belonging to Indian company MM Exports, was grounded on the Fushi Dhiggaru reef, to which the government fined the company over a 100 million rufiyaa. 

However, even after the inspection and reviewing, the company had refused to pay the penalty, and EPA had appealed to the Attorney General’s Office, requesting to press charges, to which no action was taken by Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath.