Controversial Gulhifalhu Reclamation Project Enters Second Phase

The second phase of the Gulhifalhu Reclamation Project has officially commenced, with the project’s inauguration ceremony attended by the President.

Boskalis Westminster Contracting Ltd has been assigned the responsibility of carrying out the dredging project for the second phase. The financing for this phase will be obtained through loans from two European banks. This phase aims to dredge 150 hectares of land, primarily for the Binveriya housing scheme and the development of the Gulhifalhu Port.

advertisement

ގުޅިފަޅުގެ ދެވަނަ ފިޔަވަހީގެ ބިން ހިއްކުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ހަވާލުކޮށްފައިވަނީ ނެދަލޭންޑްސްގެ ބޮސްކާލިސް ކުންފުންޏާއެވެ.

މި މަސައްކަތުގެ ދަށުން ދެވަނަ ފިޔަވަހި ހިއްކުމަށް 18 މިލިއަން ކިއުބިކް މީޓަރުގެ ވެލި އެ ފަޅަށް އަޅާނެއެވެ. އަދި، މި ފޭސްގައި 150 ހެކްޓަރުގެ ބިން ހިއްކާނެއެވެ. pic.twitter.com/0VWpgbjh2f— Min.of National Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (@MoNPHImv) July 2, 2023

To accomplish this, 18 million cubic meters of sand will be laid. The dry land resulting from this process will be allocated for various purposes, including the government’s housing project, relocating the Malé Commercial Harbour and construction of an international port at Gulhifalhu.

Environmental groups, including the #SaveMaldives Campaign, have expressed strong opposition to the Gulhifalhu Reclamation Project. These groups highlight concerns about potential ecological consequences, referring to the project as the “Gulhifalhu Ecocide” and raising similar objections to the proposed Addu Ecocide. 

In a recently released video collaboration, these organisations call on the Maldivian government and the People’s Majlis to halt the project, citing fears of accumulating debt, environmental destruction, and irreversible damage to the delicate marine ecosystem.

The Binveriya housing scheme is the most extensive housing initiative undertaken in the country to date. In August, the government plans to begin the allocation of land for beneficiaries of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme, with approximately 2,000 plots of land being made available under the scheme in Gulhifalhu.