China pledges to finance construction of 100 housing units in H.Dh Nolhivaranfaru, Maldives (Linked to Record ID#38230)

A 2011 Environmental & Social Impact Assessment indicates that the Chinese government pledged grant funds for constructing 100 housing units in H.Dh Nolhivaranfaru (p. 14), and the Maldives Government Budget Summary 2013-2015 estimated that China was contributing 50 million MVR for 2013 and 19.4 million MVR for 2014, for a total project cost of 69.4 million MVR.

AidData failed to find evidence of a signed financing agreement for this project so the commitment year and actual transaction amount is unclear. 54 of the houses would be given to the residents of three islands (Maavaidhoo, Kuburudhoo and Faridhoo) that were forced to migrate to Nolhivaranfaru after the 2004 tsunami so that the government could provide more development opportunities and increase access to better services.

The allocation of the rest of the houses had not been decided as of March 2011, which is when the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was published. The housing units would contain 2-3 bedrooms, a sitting and dining room, a kitchen and an open area.

The proposed area of construction for these 100 housing units had already been cleared in 2008 when land was cleared for another similar project, but 47 houses were constructed (Record ID#38230) on the cleared land area that had been planned for this project and the area had an overgrowth of weedy plants and underbrush in 2011.

The total land area needed for this project is 300,000 square feet, 141,000 square feet of which still needed to be cleared according to the 2011 EIA. Construction on this project began in 2011, but was brought to a hold in 2014.

However, with the signing of a contract with Rasheed Carpentry and Construction on July 18, 2021, the project has been resumed. It is now expected to be completed around March 15, 2022.