Unpaid environmental fines beyond MVR 930 mn

An audit report has revealed that unpaid fines to the state regarding damages to the environment are now higher than MVR 930 million.

These figures come from the Environment Ministry's audit of their 2022 financial statements and the 2019, 2020 and 2021 compliance audit reports.

As per the report, in determining fines over damages to the environment and the issues regarding the fines made under regulations in acquiring compensation, the state is to receive a total of MVR 930,328,480 until 16th September 2024. 

As it has been more than a year since then, it is unclear as to what the total environmental fines are.

Environmental fines not being paid is a growing problem. In the case a fine is not paid, the Parliament's Committee on Environment and Climate Change had passed in February 2025 to hold discussions with relevant parties in order to stop such businesses.

Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) and Attorney General's Office heads had been called to the Parliament committee and questioned in October 2024 regarding the failure in environmental fine payments.

As per what the ERA has told the committee, as a considerable amount of time passes where the state does not receive the fine payments, the biggest obstacle for the ERA in acquiring said funds is them not having the power to to take the issue to court.

The Attorney General's Office stated that the issue of international maritime vessels running aground onto Maldivian reefs, being fined and leaving after not paying the fine has occurred quite a bit in the last three years.