President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced more developmental projects for Dhigaaru, Meemu Atoll. He made the announcement while speaking at a ceremony in Dhiggaru to mark the completion of the coastal protection project.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Solih said that his administration is of the people and will continue to promote, uphold, and serve their best interests. The president recalled that previous administrations had failed to deliver on their pledges to address the most pressing concerns of the people of Dhiggaru. Further, the president stated the most pertinent needs of the island had been unfulfilled when his administration took office and noted the support and cooperation towards his developmental agenda by the local councils and parliamentarians.
The coastal protection project in Dhiggaru saw the development of 700m protective rock-boulder seawalls in the areas affected most by storm surges and coastal erosion. The president said the administration would study the effectiveness of the defensive structures over the next two-to-three years and make any necessary changes. He also spoke about the land reclamation project, initiated by the administration. The project would see the island grow in size to 38 hectares. The administration pledged to reclaim 25 hectares of land with 17 hectares of land reclamation now completed. He also urged the local council to draw up a land-use plan for the island.
Both projects, worth USD7.89 million, are carried out by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). At the ceremony, the community presented President Solih with a commemorative model of the island.