Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim has approved the reclamation of the Hdh. Kulhudhuffushi mangrove, to build a domestic airport in the island.

RaajjeMV understands that project was approved on Thursday, so that the government can move forward with its plans during the weekend.

While the Minister has given the green light to continue with the project, it has been just two days since the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was publicized. According to regulations, 10 days should be given for public opinion, starting from the day of the report being publicized.

According to the report, the project will have "lasting damage" and is "undesirable from a purely environmental perspective".

While a group of people protested in front of the Environment Ministry in the capital Malé City on Thursday, RaajjeMV understands that some citizens from Kulhudhuffushi are to file a case at Court on Sunday, seeking to halt the reclamation project.

The mangrove in Kulhudhuffushi island is the largest in the country, and the island is among the Environment Ministry's identified "Environmentally Sensitive Areas". While the island previously had two mangrove areas, the area in the south was reclaimed for the island's development.

Back in 2014, Ecocare Maldives had highlighted that reclaiming the mangrove area to develop an airport "is a direct violation of Article 22 of the constitution".

"Article 22 of the Maldivian Constitution says that the state has a fundamental duty to protect and preserve the natural environment, biodiversity, resources and beauty of the country for the benefit of present and future generations. The state shall undertake and promote desirable economic and social goals through ecologically balanced sustainable development and shall take measures necessary to foster conservation, prevent pollution, the extinction of any species and ecological degradation for any such goals".