Govt announces 4,000 flat eligibility list

The government of Maldives yesterday announced the list of eligible candidates to receive the 4,000 housing units being developed in Hulgumalé, after reviewing the initial list published by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration.

A total of 1,820 people were declared eligible, out of which 1,423 people would receive three room apartments and 397 applications are to get two room apartments.

The 4,000 flats being developed in Hulhumalé Phase 2 include 2,750 three bedroom apartments and 1,250 two bedroom apartments.

The reviewed list also determined 2,695 applicants as ineligible including 424 people who were bumped down from the original list due to point changes.

The list also included the reason why candidates were deemed ineligible.

In a press conference regarding the housing project, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthhalib said that the current administration verified whether the 4,000 people on the list prepared by the former government were eligible.

He said they looked at those who scored more than 76 points from the previous list of eligible applicants, with any remaining flats to be decided by draw among those who scored 75 points. Eligibility of the two room apartment required a minimum of 73 points at the time, he added.

Speaking further, Muthhalib said they did not look at the forms of anyone who was not already on the list created by the last administration. He also said the biggest problem they identified was that fraudulent documents were submitted to prove applicants had lived in Malé for the last 15 years.

At the time, the housing project was aimed for people who lived in Malé continuously for the past 15 years. Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) found that a lot of fraudulent documents were submitted to meet this requirement.

Two bedroom apartment

- MVR 7,000 as rent

- MVR 1,000 as maintenance fee

- Security deposit of MVR 15,000

Three bedroom apartment

- MVR9,000 as rent

- MVR 1,500 as maintenance fee

- Security deposit of 25,0000

According to Muthhalib, the remaining flats would be allocated after verifying all the 15,000 left. However, he went on to say that this would be done after deadline for submitting complaints to the list announced today expired. The government has decided to give the complaint submission process a month.