President Mohamed Muizzu confirmed on Tuesday that his administration will expedite the process of handing over deeds for both land plots and flats to those who received them under the former government’s housing schemes.
President Muizzu, in a social media post, revealed that the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development is actively engaged in the deed registration and transfer process for land plots and flats, with expectations to complete the task by the following week.
“The handover of deeds for land plots and flats to gazetted beneficiaries, who are on the final list, will go ahead as I promised,” he said.
The President said some of the land plots given were in areas that are yet to be reclaimed, and as such, reclamation work is ongoing. He also underscored the administration’s commitment to reclaiming additional land areas from Gulhifalhu and Giraavaru Falhu, reiterating the government’s dedication to fulfilling its pledges. This emphasis on land reclamation aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to address housing needs, despite the contentious nature of the Fushidhiggaru falhu development project, which diverged from the previous administration’s housing initiatives.
President Muizzu’s announcement addresses the concerns raised by Meekail Ahmed Naseem, Member of Parliament for Galolhu South, who had previously criticised the Muizzu administration for its ambiguous statements regarding land and flat allocations. The issue gained prominence following an emergency motion submitted to Parliament by Naseem, calling for a swift handover of land plots and flats allocated during the Solih administration. The motion, supported by 29 members, highlighted the urgency of resolving the allocations issue, especially in the wake of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s probe into alleged irregularities in the Gedhoruveriya housing scheme.
On Tuesday, around 15 people protested at the ACC over the delay in the commission’s investigation. Protesters arrived at the ACC carrying placards with their grievances calling on the President to honour his promise to hand over titles to land plots and flats at the earliest.
Despite the Muizzu administration’s assurance that no land plots would be withdrawn, concerns were raised when the current Minister of Housing Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed highlighted the need to revise some flat allocations and potentially relocate certain land plots. The President’s latest announcement marks a pivotal step in resolving the ongoing controversy surrounding the handover of land plots and flats under the former government’s Gedhoruveriya and Binveriya housing schemes.
Additional reporting by Andrew Richards