President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that work to reclaim an additional two hectares of land in Alifu Alifu Ukulhas and protect the island’s shoreline will begin this month.
Speaking at a PNC flag-hoisting rally held in Ukulhas, President Dr Muizzu said development projects were progressing on the island in different phases in line with the pledges he had made to its residents. As part of efforts to address the island’s housing shortage, the President said two additional hectares would be added to the land already reclaimed in Ukulhas.
President Dr Muizzu said Ukulhas has an extensive tourism industry and that he had met several people active in the sector and listened to some of their concerns. Addressing one of those concerns, he said shoreline protection work would begin within the next two weeks once the environmental impact assessment for the project had been completed.
The President said development work was progressing in Ukulhas and other parts of the Maldives. He noted that several land reclamation and housing projects had been launched over the past two and a half years.
President Dr Muizzu said development was being carried forward alongside efforts to restore the economy, which had been in decline when the Administration assumed office.
During his visit to Ukulhas, the President met members of the island council and the Women’s Development Committee.
At the meeting, the council requested the development of additional housing units to address the housing shortage, the reclamation of more land adjoining the island’s existing reclaimed area, and the provision of water, sewerage and electricity services to the reclaimed land. The council also requested the development of roads in the area.
Councillors also raised difficulties in allocating land required to expand the island’s powerhouse.
A total of 13 hectares of land was reclaimed in Ukulhas in 2023. The original land area of Ukulhas is 21 hectares, while the island has a population of more than 1,200.
Ukulhas has exhausted its available land and faces significant demand for housing. No residential plots have been allocated on the island for more than 25 years, and several families continue to require plots of their own.
Land reclamation is among the projects most sought by the people of Ukulhas. The reclaimed land will be used to ensure its benefits reach as many residents as possible.
While residential plots are to be allocated from the reclaimed area, the Government has also commenced construction of 50 housing units in Ukulhas.