Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib stated last night that Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and the ministry's Public Works Service will be given the responsibility of establishing the water and sewerage service at Gulhifalhu.

While speaking on the President's Office's "Ahaa" forum on State TV PSM, Muththalib said that establishing water, sewerage and electricity services on the reclaimed land will incur an even higher expense than the dredging of the island.

"Let us say for example that more than USD 400 million has to be spent to establish these services and to pave the road," said the minister.

However, as the work has not started yet and is seeing delays, the government has decided that MTCC and the ministry's Public Works Service will collaborate in starting the necessary water and sewerage network establishment efforts as soon as possible.

Muththalib said that the government is working on facilitating a quick path for people to populate the plots that have been allocated to them in the Male' region once they are handed over.

Muththalib said that the current government took office when the previous government had not completed the reclamation of Hulhumale' Phase 3, Gulhifalhu and Giraavaru Falhu at which they had already allocated plots for citizens in their Binveriya Scheme, and that the current government moved forward with the reclamations even with the economic difficulties at the time. The previous government awarded the reclamation projects to the company that would dredge Hulhumale' Phase 3 and part of Thilafushi, said Muththalib. 

Nevertheless, Muththalib said as the plots that would go to the reclamation company were in important areas and would need to be used for various reasons, the current government decided to find contractors via Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) who can conduct land reclamation efforts. 

"The reclamation of Giraavaru Falhu was stalled after more than 100 hectares had been reclaimed due to the changes in fuel prices and availability caused by the war in the Middle East. Even so, you will see on the news that the work has started again and is moving forward," stated Muththalib.

He went on to say that by the time the reclamation of the rest of Giraavaru Falhu is finished, survey efforts will begin and plot handovers will take place.

Muththalib added that arrangements will be made soon so that HDC can begin issuing permits for the construction of the boundary walls of the plots that have been allocated in Gulhifalhu and Hulhumale' Phase 3, along with other efforts.