Flooding worsened by removal of pumps without backup plan, says Male' Mayor

Male' City Mayor Adam Azim has said the severe waterlogging seen on the streets of Male' during the current rainy spell is the result of water pumps being removed from flood-prone areas without a backup plan, on the pretext of road construction. In a post on X, Azim said he was extremely concerned over the difficulties residents face as roads in the capital flood once again. He noted that after two years of intense work, the Male' City Council had found a highly desirable and effective solution to Male's flooding problem, and said it was unacceptable for residents to be put in such a situation again. Azim said the flooding had become this severe because water pumps in the most flood-prone areas were suddenly removed, without any backup arrangement, by those saying it was for road construction work. He also said that responsibility for Male's storm water system is split among several institutions, which he described as a major obstacle to properly managing the entire system. The Mayor called for an urgent replacement solution for the removed pumps and for the drainage system to be managed under a single authority with consistency. He also urged all relevant institutions to work together immediately to provide the public with a permanent and quick solution. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released statistics on the rainy spell. It said that as of 11pm last night, one sewage leak from a household had been reported. Requests for sandbags to prevent flooding included 33 homes, 35 shops, 6 cafes/restaurants, 5 government and private buildings, 4 schools, 2 clinics, 2 warehouses, 1 office building and 1 construction site. The NDMA said assistance had been provided to 31 locations before midnight, and that work to assist the remaining locations was continuing with relevant institutions.