High Court halts reclamation of Gulhifalhu

The High Court issued an injunction on Wednesday, ordering the suspension of the reclamation of K. Gulhifalhu.

Environmental activist Humaida Abdul Ghafoor had filed a case with the Civil Court, seeking a halt to the Gulhifalhu project, citing irrevocable damage to the environment. But after the court denied an injunction to halt the project, she appealed the decision with the High Court.

On Wednesday, the appellant court granted the injunction, ordering a halt to the project until the court makes a final ruling.

The court issued the injunction with the consensus of 2-1.

The order comes with over 100 hectors out of the planned 150 hectors already reclaimed. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had also announced plans to reclaim an additional 85 hectors.

The reclamation of Gulhifalhi, along with Giraavarufalhu and Hulhumale’ is part of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme, launched by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His administration had announced plans to issue at least 1,000 plots from Hulhumale’, 2,000 from Gulhifalhu, and another 2,000 from Giraavarufalhu, to provide housing to residents of Male’.