Government allows Kohdhipparu to be developed into a tourist resort

Government has given the go-ahead to develop Kohdhipparu island into a tourist resort, in exchange for the construction of 100 housing units or 50 luxury villas in Hulhumale’.

An official from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture told Sun today that the Ministry received an order from the President’s Office on the 1st of January this year, citing a proposal by the owner of Ameen Construction Abdulla Mohamed and instructing them to grant the island to be developed into a tourist resort.

The official also said that a joint venture company was established on 22nd May 2013, with Abdulla Mohamed’s company Top Deck Investment holding 90 percent shares and the government with the remaining 10 percent, for the development of the resort.

“The company has to complete the agreed housing units within 24 months of signing the leasing agreement, for island to be developed into a tourist resort. We’ve granted permission for the resort development about a month ago, although the lease agreement has not been signed yet,” the official said.

Until now, the island of Kohdhipparu has been reserved as a picnic island.

The number rooms to be build on the island is yet unclear, the official said.

The island, which was first a small sand bank located within speedboat distance from the capital Male’, was reclaimed and expanded to three hectares of land. The land area translates to a tax of about $240,000 per year.

The individual who reclaimed the and expanded the sand bank sold the area to the Abdulla Mohamed, some years ago.