Govt. announces 50-unit housing project in Kurendhoo, three days to by-election

The government has issued an invitation to tender for a project to building 50 housing units in Lh. Kurendhoo, as the island prepares to vote in the by-elections to replace president of Kurendhoo Council.

Finance Ministry has asked interested contractors to pay a MVR 500 non-refundable registration fee by April 14 to take part in the bidding.

The registration fee will be collected between 08:00 am and 02:00 pm on working days, and between 09:30 am and 01:00 pm on working days during Ramadan.

The bid security for the project is MVR 255,000 or the equivalent in US dollars.

The by-election for the vacant seat of the president of Kurendhoo Council is scheduled to be held on March 26.

Speaking during a campaign event for MDP’s candidate for the by-election last week, Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed suggested issuing 1,000 plots from the waters off Kurendhoo.

Nasheed said that while the lack of lagoon in Kurendhoo denied the opportunity to conduct a land reclamation project, there was modern technology available which eliminated the need to reclaim land to build homes.

Nasheed said that while the project hadn’t been finalized, there was hope the project would be conducted.

PPM leader, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom responded to Nasheed’s comments during an ‘India Out’ campaign event held in Kurendhoo last week by warning the residents of the island not to fall for Nasheed’s promises.

“What I have to say [to the government] is to bring about development with the resources available. You don’t need to go far. But given the lack of experience and aptitude for development, I have to appeal to the people not to fall for it,” he said.

MDP’s candidate Ali Naseem will be running against PPM’s candidate Ismail Madheeh in the by-election.

The position of president of Kurendhoo Council fell vacant following the resignation of Ibrahim Simau. 

The government had also launched numerous projects ahead of the Komandoo by-election in February. However, the progress of the projects had stalled after the election.