Parliament rejects motion to halt transfer of Thilafushi fire waste to Kunburudhoo

Parliament on Wednesday rejected an emergency motion seeking to halt plans to transfer burnt waste from the recent fire at the Regional Waste Management Facility in K. Thilafushi to the waste transfer station in HDh. Kunburudhoo.

A fire broke out at the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) site on Thilafushi last Sunday, damaging a large section of the landfill area and disrupting operations at the facility. Following the incident, WAMCO announced plans to transport the burnt waste to the waste transfer station under development in Kunburudhoo.

The emergency motion was submitted by Hussain Ziyad, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP for Vaikaradhoo constituency.

The motion stated that the Kunburudhoo facility remains under construction and is not yet equipped with an operational waste disposal system.

It argued that transferring the waste under the current conditions could pose risks to public health and the environment.

According to the motion, the site does not have a concrete flooring system, meaning waste would be deposited directly onto the ground, allowing contaminated leachate to seep into the soil without a mechanism for collection or treatment.

The motion also stated that Kunburudhoo is a protected nesting habitat for sea turtles and warned that contamination could affect the habitat. It further argued that substances from the waste could pollute the soil and groundwater, affecting vegetation and the island's ecosystem.

It also cited potential health risks associated with hazardous substances released from burnt plastic and industrial waste, as well as gases such as carbon monoxide, which it said could cause respiratory problems and other health issues.

The motion was rejected after 27 members voted against accepting it for debate.

The proposed transfer of the burnt waste has also drawn concern from residents of islands in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, who have publicly opposed the plan.