Dredger for Giraavaru lagoon reclamation will arrive in Malé on November 23: Pres. Muizzu
The government is legally obligated to distribute Gedhoruveriyaa flats according to the previous administration's finalized list, which cannot be altered
Work on the reclamation of Giraavaru Lagoon (file photo)
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the dredger for the Giraavaru lagoon reclamation project will arrive in Malé on November 23, and that the reclaimed land will be allocated soon.
At a rally held by the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) held on Friday night, the president stated that he is acting in line with his campaign promises and is currently distributing plots of land and flats that were allocated under the previous administration.
Addressing the “Gedhoruveriyaa” flats, he said that units are being handed over as they are completed and that the flat allocation list remains unchanged.
He also stated that work on reclaiming the Giraavaru lagoon will begin shortly, with the dredger’s arrival scheduled for November 23. According to him, the reclamation will move ahead rapidly and will include Hulhumalé Phase III, Ras Malé, and North Thilafalhu.
Despite the president’s remarks, the current administration was required to distribute the Gedhoruveriyaa flats according to the existing, unchanged list because it had been finalized and gazetted during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration.
Legal experts have consistently noted that, after more than a year, the government was legally obligated to honor the list, as altering it would have been unlawful.
As land allocation disputes continue, the Malé Residents Association recently sent a letter to Muizzu expressing concern over the government’s decision to relocate some Giraavaru lagoon land recipients to Ras Malé.
Although the previous administration had a comprehensive master plan to develop the entire area alongside the Thilamalé Bridge project, Muizzu’s government appears to be prioritizing the reclamation and development of Ras Malé, which is significantly farther from Malé. This shift in focus has drawn substantial criticism toward the government.
