Malé swimming track closed for dredging

The swimming track in the capital’s southern waterfront has been closed for dredging to deepen the area to its original depth.

The Swimming Association announced the temporary closure and advised people not to use the track as the housing ministry began the excavation on Saturday afternoon. The reopening will be announced once the water is found to be clean enough, the association said.

The dredging follows complaints and concern about trash, sand encroachment and lack of depth.

The capital’s natural beaches were lost to reclamation and shore protection over the past decades. The track is the only area available for athletes as the water is too shallow in Malé’s two artificial beaches.

Upon request from Youth Ministry, @HousingGovMv will attempt in dredging the area back to its original depth profile. Meanwhile, full support from the public is important specially for safety reasons. pic.twitter.com/km8APpjvTu

— Dr.Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) May 5, 2018

Sand was dredged out of the swimming area to bring to its previous depth.Thank you Housing Ministry.BUT another question, why is the mud in Black color? Its supposed to be lighter. Pollution is rather often at the swimming track, but Black Mud/Sand means we need an investigation. pic.twitter.com/48hJHHuMbc

— Shamau Shareef (@schamau) May 5, 2018

Q: How did the track get filled with sand? A: Because I collected sand and had it dumped in the swimming track. Now I am going to make money from dredging that area. – create a mess make money from clearing own mess. Muizzed https://t.co/zqgNniKPoC

— Munshid 🎈❓ (@dyingregime) May 6, 2018

Dredging works commences at BML Malé Swimming Track. pic.twitter.com/5uFxKPunbX

— Maldives Swimming (@MDVswim) May 5, 2018

Swimming Track today. pic.twitter.com/oa2PpfBEHs

— 𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙢🎈 (@waddey) April 29, 2018

Lending a hand to @lagoonswimmers to cleanup Male’ Swimming Track: 54 bags full of trash in two and half hour 😱😱😱 #saveouroceans #endplasticpollution pic.twitter.com/4LhvZz6dzh

— Dive Desk (@DiveDesk) May 4, 2018

#nlsc Where its happening 🏊‍♀️🏊🏼‍♂️🏊‍♀️#plasticfree 🌎🌎

Sand encroachment at Male’ #SwimmingTrack needs to be prevented | Major concern of swim clubs, coaches and 🏊‍♀️🏊🏼‍♂️🏊‍♀️ @MinYouthSports @MDVswim @EnvGovMv @Thoriqibrahim @MMuizzu @AhmedMarzooq pic.twitter.com/DewCBlMExu

— New Lagoon Swimming Club (@lagoonswimmers) May 3, 2018