Over 6,000 Trees Cut for Hanimaadhoo Airport Upgrade
The Hanimaadhoo Island Council has announced its intention to pursue legal action after the government failed to compensate residents for more than 6,000 trees cleared from the island's "Safe Zone" for the airport redevelopment project. Although the council agreed to clear the area based on formal assurances that compensation would be provided, they noted that the work has been completed without any payments being issued to the affected citizens.
Hanimaadhoo Safe Zone Area. | Raajje MV
The Hanimaadhoo Island Council has stated that residents are yet to receive compensation for over 6,000 trees and palms cleared for the Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project. Despite assurances that the expansion would facilitate the landing of large aircraft and private jets, the Council noted that the community may now be forced to seek legal recourse through the courts to secure the unpaid compensation.
Regarding the progress of the "Safe Zone" area in Hanimaadhoo, the President of the Hanimaadhoo Island Council, Ali Ibrahim, stated in an interview with RaajjeTV that the site was previously a fully forested area.
The Council President stated that officials from MACL and RACL had previously visited the island to meet with the council and discuss the area, at which time they were instructed to vacate the site. He noted that the order to clear the area was issued under the pretense of wanting to commence projects as urgently as possible.
Ali Ibrahim stated that MACL had previously asserted the area was essential for accommodating large aircraft and private jets. The Council President further noted that the company justified the land acquisition as a necessary step to meet the standard requirements of an international airport.
At the time, the council accepted those terms and agreed to the proposal for the sake of the island's development. However, he noted that the council had emphasized even then that compensation must be paid for the trees on the land and that the necessary Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) must be completed.
Furthermore, the Council President stated that the government completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process within a single day to suit their timeline; however, work on the site commenced without providing the required compensation.
Despite this, he noted that the council has allowed the airport project to proceed as the public wishes for its completion. However, he stated that no resident has received compensation to date, and those seeking it now have no choice but to take the matter to court.
