HDC: Hiyaa windows did not shatter due to poor quality

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) states that the shattering of windows at some of the units in the Hiyaa housing towers did not result from poor quality.

HDC’s media officer Ali Mashar told Sun on Monday afternoon that the windows shattered in units in H3 and H4.

He said HDC does not believe poor quality glass to be the cause.

“The windows in the flats are of good quality. It’s the first time for such an incident to take place in the two years since the windows were installed. Given the 14,000 windows there, we can’t say they are of poor quality,” he said.

Mashar said an investigation by HDC’s Projects Department showed the windows in H3 did not shatter due to natural causes. He said that the investigation showed the incident took place because something hit the windows.

He said that HDC was unable to determine the cause of the shattering of windows in H4 because the glass had already been removed when officials went for inspection.

Mashar said the windows in Hiyaa units are made of good quality tampered glass which is designed for long-term use.

However, Hiyaa Union’s head founder Abdulla Amzal believes the windows could have shattered due to exposure to the heat from the sun.

Hiyaa Union has also expressed concern that some of the units faced flooding during the heavy rain in central Maldives last week, and that there were blocks in drainage pipes in some of the units.