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Former government contracted CMCC to reclaim 3 lagoons in exchange for 19 hectare plot and USD 20 million

Information that the former administration had hired CMCC to reclaim land from 3 lagoons in exchange for land plots from the reclaimed area in addition to USD 20 million has been revealed.

Aishath Shuba Solih
01 April 2024, MVT 19:12
An area of land reclaimed from Thilafushi lagoon.
Aishath Shuba Solih
01 April 2024, MVT 19:12

It has been revealed that the former administration had appointed the Sri Lankan contractor, Capital Marine and Civil Construction Company (CMCC) to reclaim land in three lagoons of Kaafu atoll in exchange for USD 20 million and about 20 hectares of land plots from the reclaimed land.

CMCC was contracted to enforce revetments and develop the roads, piers and jetties following reclamation of land from Phase 3 of Hulhumale', Phase 4 of Thilafushi and the Dhiyaneru lagoon included in the 'Binveriya' housing scheme initiated by the former government close to the end of their tenure, amid the month of August.

These land reclamation projects entails 9.6 hectares from Thilafushi, 24.6 hectares from Dhiyaneru and 62.6 hectares from Phase 3 of Hulhumale'.

The agreement signed with the company stipulates that CMCC must be compensated USD 20 million (MVR 309 million) under an installment plan by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) as an advance payment.

This agreement was further signed to confer the entire 9.6 hectares of land reclaimed from the Thilafushi lagoon to the company in addition to 10 hectares of land from Phase 3 of Hulhumale.

The company was also entitled to an area of land under any plan chosen by them for the commercial plan proposed to HDC under this agreement.

The agreement was made with a validity duration of 50 years and a directive allowing extension of the agreement to an additional 49 years. Consequently, CMCC will acquire 19.6 land plots from the reclaimed land for a duration of 99 years.

Ongoing land reclamation at K. Fushidhiggaru Falhu.

Not a new payment model despite criticism

While it has now been revealed that the former administration made such an agreement, the current opposition has been heavily condemning the government's agreement to offer land in exchange for reclaiming land from Fushidhiggaru Falhu for the Rasmale' project initiated by this administration, asserting that it is a weighty act of deception.

This large-scale project of Fushidhiggaru Falhu land reclamation has been contracted to CMCC by this government as well. The State had appointed the company to reclaim a total area of over 1,090 hectares with the company benefitting a total of 70 hectares of land from the reclaimed area. This includes 60 hectares from RasMale' and 10 hectares from Hulhumale'.

The development of Fushidhiggaru Falhu under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's "Total Solution" housing policy is decided to proceed within the State's highest priority . This administration had conceded to the payment model of offering land in compensation for land reclamation due to the parliament - which opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) holds majority of - completely excluding the MVR 400 million added to the annual State budget for the reclamation of this lagoon.

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