Penalty for illegal construction work over Hulhumale power cut

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has said on Wednesday that the power outage in the Hiyaa Flats at Hulhumale Phase II on Tuesday was due to illegal construction works and necessary action will be taken against those responsible.

Water and power cuts were reported from Hiyaa towers around 11.05am on Tuesday. It took over 4 hours to reconnect water and electricity to the Hiyaa towers after the service was disrupted.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the HDC said that the power outage occurred during road widening work done by a contractor of Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) in the area.

"It has been found that the corporation has carried out the work in violation of rules and without obtaining the requisite permissions," HDC said.

"We assure you that necessary action will be taken in this regard as per the rules and regulations of this corporation."

Permission has to be obtained as per the rules and regulations of the HDC for road widening work in any part of Hulhumale.

The HDC said that in granting permission, the corporation will inform the utility service providers and a team of inspectors will visit the site and regularly observe how the work is being done.

Water and power cuts from Hiyaa towers, which house around 30,000 people, are common, according to residents. Some residents from the Hiyaa housing units told Atoll Times that this was the fourth time this month alone that utilities had been cut off in the area.

Residents of the Hiyaa housing have been complaining that every time services are disconnected in this manner, normal life is completely upended and the HDC has apologised for the inconveniences caused.