Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has been awarded a contract to perform harbour development and shore protection works on Thakandhoo Island.
The works will address the issue of erosion, which has been exacerbated by the southwest monsoon. If left unresolved, the erosion will make it dangerous and difficult for vessels to enter and depart from the harbour channel.
Residents of the area also believe the current water flow blockage in the mangrove area is due to the design of the harbour channel. They believe the channel has diverted the tides, allowing excess of sand to gather inside the mangrove area, which in turn caused blockage of waterflow inside the area.
The scope of works for the project includes harbour dredging operations of 4,455 cubic metres and channel dredging of 2,230 metres, construction of a 252-metre breakwater, 126-metre groynes, and a 160-metre revetment, installation of 883 square metres of harbour pavement, installation of harbour lights, installation of navigational lights, installation of mooring bollards.
