A task force put together by the Maldives Government, to manage the seamless transfer of operations at GMR Male International Airport Pvt Ltd, met with GMR officials and worked out a “plan and strategy” for transfer of operations, a senior Maldives Government official said on Tuesday.
Details of the plan or strategy were not immediately available. The GMR Group, however, maintained that the Singapore Court injunction allows them to continue running the airport.
On Tuesday, the Maldives Government went in appeal on one of the two injunctions issued by the Singapore Court on Monday. “This is because one of the two counts that GMR asked for was not ruled in favour of the Maldives Government,” a senior Maldives Government official said.
On December 1, the Maldives Government decided to revoke the contract of GMR Group-led consortium to modernise Male airport. The Group has been asked to vacate it by December 7.
Meanwhile, the Maldivian President, Mohamed Waheed, is to shortly send a communication to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh explaining his country’s decision on annulling the contract of GMR Group for modernising the Male International airport project.
This message was communicated during a telephonic conversation that the Maldives Foreign Minister had with the External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, on Tuesday. During the conversation Khurshid reiterated that the Maldives Government should not give the impression that India and Maldives were drifting apart. The Indian External Affairs Minister also said that it would be best if the matter is settled amicably.
Aid not to be cut
Official sources said there was no question of India cutting back on aid to Maldives. India provides annual budgetary support to Maldives. This year’s budgetary support has not yet been disbursed.
ashwini.Phadnis@
thehindu.co.in