Maldives water crisis: India ready to offer second desalination plant to Male

New Delhi: India is ready to offer Maldives a second desalination plant that would help it overcome its drinking water crisis, provided Male makes a request for it. India had provided drinking water for 100,000 residents of Male after a fire put the nation’s only desalination plant out of action.

Ministry of External Affairs officials, however, hinted that any such proposal must come from Male. “India, as a matter of principle, does not impose or suggest projects to any country either near abroad or far abroad, unlike some countries that undertake development projects in various parts of the world out of own volition. We purely go by the suggestions and needs of the local government,” a senior MEA official claimed.

The officials also pointed out that there are sensitivities involved when a bigger neighbour tries to assist a smaller neighbour. “We have to be mindful of these sensitivities to prevent any anti-India sentiments from taking birth,” another official noted.