Dhuvaafaru Island Council has begun a topographic survey at the newly reclaimed area to formulate the land-use plan of the island.
The council contracted Blue Coast Maldives Private Limited to conduct the survey of the entire island, including the 22 hectares of newly reclaimed land. Blue Coast Maldives stated the survey will be completed within the month after data is collected on the land area of Dhuvaafaru. The company stated the land-use plan will be drafted after completing the survey, in order to publish the final plan for public scrutiny and submit it to the government.
Dhuvaafaru Island Council stated conducting the survey and formulating the land-use plan for the reclaimed area will solve the difficulties many families have been facing due to lack of housing. The council added that land will also be issued for businesses and industrial use in accordance with the land-use plan.
Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) completed the land reclamation project last year. The project, worth USD9.2 million, aims to increase the land capacity of Dhuvaafaru and resolve the housing issues faced on the island.
Dhuvaafaru in Raa Atoll was populated by people from the nearby island of Kandholhudhoo, which was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. The population of the island now exceeds 2,900, filling nearly all available land on the island.