Hulhumale dredging to resume in December
One reason of work suspension is to minimise environmental impact, anticipating coral regeneration around November and December every year.
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By
Ahmed Mizyal
Urbanco has temporarily halted the western lagoon reclamation project in Hulhumale started by the previous government to provide houses to the people of Male.
Sri Lanka's Capital Marine and Civil Construction (CMC) started dredging the Hulhumale lagoon on September 22.
The project was planned to be carried out in three stages:
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Stage one will dredge 10 hectares
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Stage two will dredge 29 hectares
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Stage three will dredge 24 hectares
An Urbanco spokesperson told Atoll Times that the project came to a halt in late October. Stage one was completed by then.
The reasons for the suspension of the project, the official supplied:
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Contractor decides to carry out dredger repairs after completion of Site A (Stage One)
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Anticipate coral regeneration around November and December every year and not to continue dredging during that time, so as to minimise environmental impact
The official said that 16% of the dredging work has been completed when the Hulhumale Phase III dredging project was suspended. 9% of all planned works in Phase III have been completed.
While the CMC had planned to resume work on the project this month, the official said the work has gone ahead of schedule and the suspension of the project will not have much or any impact on the schedule.
The previous government planned to give land to Male citizens from the land reclaimed under Stage One.
However, this government has said that the land availability may change.
