Giravaru Falhu Dredging to Finish This Month, Minister Tells Majlis

The dredging work at Giravaru Falhu will be completed by the end of this month, after which the land registry will be issued once the reclaimed areas are fully dry, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr Abdullah Muthalib told the Majlis. The minister was responding to questions from Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim of the MDP.

He said the project involves dredging a total of 169 hectares, of which 44 hectares have been completed so far. The remaining 54 hectares are being dredged at a fast pace, and the entire reclamation is expected to finish by 31 April. Once the land is dry, the registry will be prepared and plots will be handed over in line with the new agreement.

Addressing concerns raised during the previous administration about delays in issuing the registry, the minister said the law allows registration only for dry land and not for areas still undergoing reclamation. He said the ministry is working to finalise plot separation and handovers as soon as the new agreement is signed.

He also provided updated figures on land allocation under the revised plan:

• Number of plots allocated under Hulhumalé Phase 3 – 125
  • Number of plots allocated under Gulhifalhu – 169
• Number of new agreements signed for land in Hulhumalé Phase 3 –451
  • Number of new agreements signed under Gulhifalhu allocation – 2,972

Speaking on changes to the Giravaru Falhu land‑use plan, the minister said the previous government had planned to allocate 5,000 plots there, but the new plan does not allow for that number. As a result, 1,114 plots have been shifted to Giraavaru Falhu under a public announcement, and plot numbers have now been assigned according to the revised layout.

Housing projects remain a major priority for the government. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited the dredging site on 28 March to inspect progress. The minister noted that the previous administration had handed the project to MFMC, and after delays in implementation, the current administration reassigned the work to MACL to speed up the project. He said the government is continuing efforts to complete the reclamation and deliver the plots without further delay.