Sand transport bar halts Fuvahmulah coastal protection works

The conservation of Fuvahmulah erosion zone has come to a halt and the state has started facing huge losses due to the ban on the extraction of sand from G.Dh. Faresmathoda to protect the Fuvahmulah eroding area.

About 50,000 cubic metres of sand required for the MVR 300-million project, which has been awarded to Hogard company, has been allowed to be collected from the outer lagoon of the Faresmathoda Airport area. 

However, Faresmathoda residents came out and stopped the work late last month.

A senior government official privy to the information said on Monday that the government has to pay Hogard a hefty penalty for every day the work remains stalled due to sand mining being halted. They include:

"All the permits were obtained and the sand mining started. But the work has stopped due to the refusal of the islanders. There is no one to take responsibility for the fines. The state is suffering a huge loss," the official said.

When asked by Atoll Times, EPA Director General Ibrahim Naeem said that sand mining from the Faresmathoda airport area was allowed after considering the necessary precautions. The agency has not found any problems in this regard, he said.

"It should be continued. The permits were given after the necessary checks," Naeem said.

Faresmathoda Council Vice-President Nasrullah Mohammed told Atoll Times on Monday that the sand extraction was stopped because the islanders believed that it was better not to carry out the sand projects.

"Fuvahmulah is very close to us. The problem is not because sand is being taken from the island. The problem is that the sand is being taken away for a project there while the projects in this island remain incomplete. It is not a problem to carry the remaining sand after the work here is carried out as well," Nasrullah said.