Minister of Planning Mohamed Aslam says authorities would assess the damage caused to the Villimale reef by the platform that ran aground on the reef earlier this week and fine those responsible accordingly.
The platform was being used by the contractor developing the Thila Male' bridge.
He said this at the parliament today in an answer to a question asked by the MP for Naifaru Constituency Ahmed Shiyam.
Shiyam had asked how much damage the platform had caused the reef and if the incident would delay the Thila Male' bridge project. He also questioned how much money had been spent on the project so far.
In his answer, Minister Aslam said that the damage to the environment can only be determined once the assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA is complete.
The Minister said that if there is damage to the reef because of the incident, then those responsible would be fined accordingly. He further said that even if there is a dispute about the damage assessment, it would not be a reason that could delay the project.
The incident reported on Tuesday injured three workers on the platform who was treated at Villimale hospital for various injuries.
The massive platform has been repeatedly striking the reef with huge columns on the platform now sunk into the sea.
