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MTCC commences Guraidhoo reclamation project

Ahmed Aiham
24 August 2020, MVT 16:17
Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)'s Managing Director Adam Azim during the ongoing reclamation efforts at Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll. PHOTO: MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
24 August 2020, MVT 16:17

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) began the land reclamation and shore protection project of Guraidhoo, Kaafu Atoll, on Monday.

Awarded to MTCC by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, the MVR 80 million project involves the dredging of 644,000 square metres of the Guraidhoo lagoon, as well as 15 hectares of land reclamation and 1,200 metres of revetment.

According to MTCC's Managing Director Adam Azim, the reclamation work would be completed by September 18, while the entire project is scheduled to be completed by April, 2021.

MTCC is utilizing its largest dredger 'Mahaa Jarraaf' to complete the reclamation work at a pace of a hectare every two days.

Azim further noted that COVID-19 hindered the progress of MTCC, resulting in a temporary shutdown of all projects. However, he stated that the company would attempt to meet its deadlines.

The Guraidhoo project is among a number of major reclamations being carried out by the government, in the face of severe criticism by many environmental advocates and experts.

Earlier in 2020, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Maldives in the 127th position, out of the 180 countries that were assessed based on environmental health and vitality of ecosystems.

The most immediate issue needed to address was identified by the EPI as ‘Biodiversity and Habitat’ preservation - in which the island nation is ranked last, at 180.

Per EPI data, the country has not managed to retain natural ecosystems and protect the full range of biodiversity within its borders, to a satisfactory level.

Despite the state declared climate emergency in February, the government continues to reclaim land and lagoon areas for development purposes, often in contrast with the ruling party's own electoral pledges.

Additionally, key pieces of protective legislation, including laws banning the procurement of coconut palms from local islands or the government's pledge to establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an independent authority, remain yet to be passed or even put into motion.

The aforementioned shortcomings exist in contrast to Maldives' stance in the international arena, including advocacy at the COP summits and the country's call to criminalise ecocide at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

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