The planning ministry has announced that the official launch of the land reclamation project in Addu City will take place this Saturday.
Planning Ministry’s State Minister Abdullah Sodiq, told local media that the dredging work is scheduled to start on the 3rd of this month and that the work would be inaugurated by President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih.
The President is scheduled to pay an official visit to Addu City on Saturday to inaugurate various developmental projects including the land reclamation and Gan International Airport development project.
The government of Maldives awarded the 194.3 hectare reclamation project to Dutch company Van Oord on 27th March, 2022 to be completed within 18 months from the date of commencement.
90 hectares from Hithadhoo, 23.3 hectares from Maradhoo/Maradhoo Feydhoo and 76 hectares from uninhabited islands will be reclaimed along with some coastal protection measures as well.
Details of the project:
- 90 hectares from Hithadhoo
- 23.3 hectares from Hulhu-Meedhoo and an additional two-5 hectare islands specially for tourism
- 76 hectares from Maradhoo/Maradhoo Feydhoo
- 3 islands of 8.3 hectares each and another 2 islands of 3.3 hectares each from inside the atoll.
Despite the signing of this major reclamation project, environmentalists continue to voice out against it and the major environmental repercussions the project would result in – environmental impacts with have been highlighted in the EIA report of the project as well.
This project is funded via a USD 800 million line of credit extended by the India’s EXIM Bank and approved by the Indian government. The entire project is estimated to cost around MVR 1.3 billion.
