Harbour development projects for three islands awarded, includes historical island of Utheemu

Housing Ministry has signed harbor development projects for three islands, with three different companies today. One of the islands includes the historically significant island of Haa Alif Utheemu.

Housing Ministry also signed harbour development agreements for Laamu Dhanbidhoo and Laamu Maavah.

The harbour in Haa Alif Utheemu is predicted to be completed within one year and is estimated to cost MVR 25 million. The construction of the harbour, which is planned to have dimensions of 500 feet by 250 feet, was awarded to Heavy Force Private Limited. The agreement was signed by Managing Director of Heavy Force Ibrahim Zameer on behalf of the company.

Work on the Utheemu harbour project is planned to start on the 26th of this month.

The harbour in to be constructed in Laamu Dhanbidhoo, which comes following the significant deterioration of the current harbour, is also planned to be completed within a duration of one year and is estimated to cost MVR 29.7 million. It is planned to have dimensions of 450 feet by 250 feet was awarded to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). Chief Executive Officer of MTCC Dr. Ahmed Ad’ham Abdulla signed the agreement on behalf of the company.

Work on the Laamu Dhanbidhoo harbour is planned to start on the 20th of March this year.

Laamu Maavah harbour construction project which also comes after deterioration of the current harbour, is also estimated to be completed within a duration of one year and is estimated to cost MVR 28.2 million. The dimension of the harbour is planned to be 800 by 300 feet, and was awarded to AMIN Construction Private Limited. Managing Director of the company Abdulla Mohamed signed the agreement on its behalf.

Work on the Laamu Maavah harbour is planned to start on the 15th of March this year.

Minister of Housing Dr. Mohamed Muiz signed all the agreement on behalf of the government.

Muiz said that all three harbour development projects will be financed from the state budget.

The previous government had hesitated to develop a harbour on Haa Alif Utheem in fear that such a project might damage the historical long beach of the island, in addition to affecting the island’s environment other ways. When asked by Sun if the current project is likely to cause such damages to the island, the minister said that he does not foresee such a big change occurring to the island’s environment.

“We think about all that. God willing, such damages will not occur,” said Dr. Muiz.

He also said that such things are considered during the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and that the area currently planned for the harbour poses the least amount of damage to the island.