Housing Minister: Budget insufficient to start Hirilandhoo land reclamation project

Though money has been allocated in the budget for Hirilandhoo land project, the project has been unable to kick-start because the allocated money isn’t sufficient enough, said Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

In answer to a question posed by Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz at Monday’s People’s Majlis sitting, Dr. Muizzu said that the budget allocated for the project was MVR 500,000; whereas such a project required a minimum MVR 75 million.

“Government is keeping a close eye on situations in all islands. Hirilandhoo land reclamation project shall start very soon, god willing. But I do not think it possible to be able to start the project this year,” said Dr. Muizzu.

Dr. Muizzu said that Housing Ministry had not been consulted before starting the project – the main factor he attributed to the insufficient budget.

“If we had been discussed with before the project had been included in the budget, we could have been able to maybe allocate MVR 50 million or so. I am telling you the government policy. It is part of the government’s vision to reclaim land in Hirilandhoo.”

Dr. Muizzu said that the current government had so far successfully conducted land reclamation projects in four inlands, with projects in three more islands in progress. He said the government had so far spent about MVR 800 million on land reclamation.

In answer to a question posed on re-population by Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, Dr. Muizzu said that it was something the government did with the support of Maldivian citizens.