State to appeal halt of Gulhifalhu reclamation

The state has decided to appeal Wednesday’s High Court injunction ordering the suspension of the reclamation of K. Gulhifalhu.

Attorney General Ahmed Usham, in a post on X, underscored that the Gulhifalhu reclamation project was valued at millions in Maldivian rufiyaa. He stressed that the state will incur millions in losses for each day the project – one that is already 80 percent complete – is stalled.

In light of this, he said the government has decided to appeal the High Court’s injunction to the Supreme Court.

The Attorney General’s Office told Sun that the appeal will be submitted to the Supreme Court by Thursday latest.

Environmental activist Humaida Abdul Ghafoor had filed a case with the Civil Court, seeking a halt to the Gulhifalhu project, citing irrevocable damage to the environment. But after the court denied an injunction to halt the project, she appealed the decision with the High Court.

On Wednesday, the appellant court granted the injunction, ordering a halt to the project until the court makes a final ruling.

Former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaluddin who headed the former administration’s housing committee told Sun that the government needs to pay USD 300,000 in damages for Netherland-based contractor Boskalis for each single day reclamation of Gulhifalhu is stalled. 

The High Court order came with over 100 hectors out of the planned 150 hectors already reclaimed. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had also announced plans to reclaim an additional 85 hectors.

The reclamation of Gulhifalhu, along with Giraavarufalhu and Hulhumale’ is part of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme, launched by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His administration had announced plans to issue at least 1,000 plots from Hulhumale’, 2,000 from Gulhifalhu, and another 2,000 from Giraavarufalhu, to provide housing to residents of Male’.