The government has opted to allocate land from Thilafushi in an effort to halt fiber works in Vilimalé.
Currently, all fiber-related works are carried out on the east side of Vilimalé, a relocation prompted by the Thilamalé Bridge project connecting Malé City with Vilimalé and Thilafushi. This decision has drawn public criticism as well.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, while serving as the Malé City Mayor, formally requested the then government to allocate a plot from Thilafushi for fiber-related works. However, the government at that time did not fulfill the Male' City Council's request for land from the industrial island.
The city's Deputy Mayor, currently in-charge of the council authority, Ahmed Nareesh confirmed that President Muizzu had promised to designate the land from Thilafushi.
Nareesh added that this relocation aims to address public complaints arising after fiber works were shifted to the east side, closer to the residential areas of the island.
He further said that the dust and soot released from fiber works caused health issues to the public, a constant complain by the island's locals. Nareesh said that the council made multiple attempts to solve the issue during the previous administration.
"When President [Muizzu] was the city's Mayor, we requested to relevant government authorities to designate land in Gulhifalhu or any other place, but we did not receive any alternative land for fiber works during the previous government," he said.
"The incumbent President had given us the greenlight on facilitating land for us through Urbanco."
Nareesh stated that the council is currently handling the necessary administrative tasks before the relocation, which will proceed in accordance with the President's instructions.
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