Maldives Transport and Contracting Corporation (MTCC) has been awarded the project to conserve the beaches of Hoarafushi island in Haa Alifu atoll, against erosion.

The project was awarded to MTCC by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, and follows a design-and-build concept. It will consist of constructing five groynes of 50m and one groyne of 30m around the island.

Groynes are similar to breakwaters, and are structured perpendicular to the shoreline so as to interrupt water flow and specifically prevent erosion of beaches from longshore drift.

The government has allocated MVR 6.34 million for the project to conserve the beaches of Hoarafushi from erosion.

Shaana Faarooq, Director General of the Planning Ministry, signed the agreement on behalf of the state, with CEO Adam Azim signing on behalf of MTCC. The agreement states that the work on the project has to be concluded within 75 days.

While Hoarafushi has long struggled against the threat of beach erosion, giant stone revetments were placed along 800m of the island’s beaches in 2016 as well. Revetments were placed in the north of the island along a 570m stretch, and in the south east for a stretch of 230m. However, despite these efforts, a sustainable solution has yet to be found for the issue of beach erosion on the island of Hoarafushi as of now.