Dhonfanu council rejects president’s claim on land reclamation opposition

The Baa Dhonfanu Island Council has rejected President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s remarks that residents no longer support a proposed land reclamation project.

The project, signed last month for implementation in the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve area, faced criticism on social media over its potential environmental impact. On Tuesday, President Muizzu announced on X that the government had decided not to proceed with the project, stating that the decision reflected the wishes of the island’s residents.

In response, five council members signed a statement denying that the people of Dhonfanu had opposed the plan. The statement said the government had cancelled the project “without any consultation with the people or the council” and condemned the claim that residents no longer wanted it.

“The council is deeply concerned that such a decision has been taken without consulting the people,” the statement read. It called on the government to withdraw the decision and proceed with the project as requested by the community.

The council added that any challenges in carrying out the reclamation should be addressed and the project commenced as soon as possible.