Development in Ihavandhoo has come to a standstill, and the escalating waste management crisis has left residents in a state of deep concern
18 އެޕްރީލު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 10:02The President-elect of HA. Ihavandhoo, Ali Fawaz, has expressed deep concern over the complete halt of development projects and the escalating waste management crisis on the island. He highlighted the significant delays in commencing practical work on key presidential pledges made by President Muizzu, including the construction of a new hospital, housing units, and a fisheries complex. Consequently, Fawaz called for urgent government intervention and support to address these critical issues and resume the island's developmental progress.
Ali Fawaz, the President-elect of the Ihavandhoo Council, delivers his remarks at the commencement of the program. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
Development in HA. Ihavandhoo has come to a standstill and the island's waste management crisis has escalated severely, leaving residents in a state of deep concern, according to the President-elect of the Ihavandhoo Council, Ali Fawaz.
Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fashaairu" program on Saturday, Fawaz stated that the island's development has come to a near standstill. He noted that the project to upgrade the roads to modern standards, which began during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, is progressing at a very slow pace. While work to install lighting at the Huravee Stadium is ongoing, he emphasized that no other practical development projects are currently underway.
Addressing the island's most significant long-standing issue, Fawaz stated that the failure to manage waste has resulted in a massive accumulation of refuse, which remains a major concern for the residents. He further asserted that the current council is incapable of resolving this crisis.
Our objective is to implement a comprehensive waste management system during the upcoming council term, God willing. However, this is an initiative that will require significant support from the government. Although WAMCO has already been established on this island and staff have been recruited, no practical work has been undertaken so far to manage waste or resolve the ongoing waste-related issues.Ali Fawaz, the President-elect of the HA. Ihavandhoo Council.
Highlighting the numerous development pledges made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for Ihavandhoo, Fawaz noted that these include the establishment of a new hospital, a new school building, and the construction of 200 housing units. He further detailed plans to reclaim Dhigufaru and connect it to Ihavandhoo via a causeway to facilitate industrial activities, alongside the development of a fisheries complex. This complex is set to feature a 1,000-tonne cold storage facility, a 50-tonne brine freezing capacity, and a dedicated jetty and harbor with three collection points to streamline the fish weighing process for local fishermen.
However, he stated that none of these projects are currently making any progress.
Furthermore, Fawaz stated that to address the island's most pressing issue—land scarcity—the previous administration reclaimed 25 hectares of land. He also noted that several development projects were undertaken, including the construction of a new office building for the powerhouse, upgrading electricity and water capacity, and the development of a football stadium.
