Mohamed Latheef, the Managing Director of the government owned Thilafushi Corporation (TCL), said that delays in the Thilafushi reclamation project have resulted in only 20 percent of the work being completed.
The Rf323 million ($US21 million) project was awarded to the Heavy Load Maldives company in September 2010, with work beginning in February 2011. The scheme was to involve the reclamation of 157 hectares of land over six months as part of the continued development of an international port for the Thilafalhu Industrial Zone (TIZ).
Latheef stated that only 32 hectares had been reclaimed on Thilafushi by Heavy Load, according to minivannews.com.
“ The project is on hold due to issues which we are working with contractors to resolve,” said Latheef. “ We hope to resolve these issues in the next one two weeks.”
Latheef said that these problems were both technical and financial.
“The dredger is not currently on site. It has been taken to Sri Lanka for maintenance, ” he added.
Reclamation of land around the lagoon began in 1992 in order to solve the waste management problems from waste generated in Malé. Since then an increasing number of industrial firms have relocated to plots leased on the island.
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Dredging Today Staff, May 28, 2012; Image: gov