Housing Minister Dr. Abdullah Muthalib has said that the dredgers, landing crafts and excavators that were in Public Works are missing.

Minister Muthalib said this while answering a question from MP Ameen Faisal of Kanditheemu constituency about the government's ongoing work to solve the Kanditheemu Kandinmaige issue, during today's session of the People's Majlis.

The Minister said that deepening harbors and channels is not within the scope of work of his ministry.

"Generally, as a rule, deepening harbors and channels is not included in this ministry's mandate. These were works that Public Works used to do," the Minister said.

However, he said that Public Works' work has stopped because the whereabouts of the dredgers, landing crafts and excavators that were there are unknown.

"Public Works exists, but the dredgers, landing crafts and excavators that were in Public Works, acquired during President Yameen's government, are nowhere to be found. So in reality, because these things are not visible, because Public Works doesn't have the capability to work now, that's why this problem is so big," the Minister said.

However, he said that the government is working to find a way to continue Public Works' operations by finding these equipment.

"The Construction Ministry is one that has to assign projects to others to do, not one that does maintenance work. So the government is working to find a way to continue Public Works' operations," Dr. Muthalib said.