Mohamed Nasheed, the former President and former Speaker of the People's Majlis, has stated that nearby reefs are sustaining damage due to the ongoing Rasmale' reclamation project.

In a post made on X last night, Nasheed mentioned that during his recent visit to Maafushi, he received concerns from the island's residents. Nasheed clarified that these concerns pertained to the Fushidhiggaru Falhu (Rasmale') reclamation project.

"Due to the uncontrolled spread of sand and silt, significant damage is being inflicted upon nearby reefs. I acknowledge that land reclamation is crucial for development projects. However, it is absolutely essential for the parties conducting reclamation and dredging to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the government," Nasheed articulated.

Nasheed further emphasized the importance of considering the aspects outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

He stressed that the government must ensure that projects such as land reclamation are executed in strict accordance with the established regulations.

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), one of the companies involved in the Rasmale' reclamation, shared with the media that out of the 137.5 hectares slated for reclamation from Site A under the Rasmale' project, 41 hectares have been fully reclaimed, accounting for 30 percent of the entire project.

MACL stated that Rasmale' is currently being reclaimed using the Cristobal Colon, one of the two largest dredgers in the world, which boasts a capacity of 46,000 cubic meters.

The Rasmale' reclamation project aims to reclaim a total of 1009 hectares, with the work being carried out by three companies.

The Rasmale' reclamation project commenced on December 18th of last year.