Concerns raised over new UTF projects without allocating land

Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) Union has today raised concerns of the government announcing a major agricultural project on Uthuru Thila Falhu without issuing land plots to Male' residents as was planned when the previous administration carried out reclamation of the lagoon.

When the previous government announced the Binveriya scheme, under which land plots would be issued to those who have resided in Male' for over 20 years, over 19,000 people applied.

The government at the time stated that 251 hectares of land would be reclaimed from Uthuru Thila Falhu for this housing project, announcing that 5000 land plots will be issued from Uthuru Thila Falhru.

However, on March 28, the incumbent government entered an agreement between Maldives Industrial Development Free Zone and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd to establish an Agriculture Economic Zone (AEZ) for sustainable agriculture on Uthuru Thila Falhu.

In response to this, the UTF Union held a press conference today where lawyer Ali Hussain stated that it is unacceptable for the government to conduct other work there besides allocating land plots and flats.

Hussain recalled President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s assurance, made during the election and reiterated since, that land plots given to individuals would not be revoked.

Hussain said that the union is deeply concerned about the agricultural project that has been announced citing improved food stability, economic expansion and reduction in imported food items. He said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare had announced that greenhouses would be erected on 100 hectares of Uthuru Thila Falhu, and root vegetables grown on the remaining 100 hectares.

Hussain said that the greatest concern at the moment is housing, and it is worrying that this project has been announced disregarding the fact that thousands of people are waiting in hopes of receiving housing.

"When there are over 19,000 people hoping for housing, it is worrying that Uthuru Thila Falhu is being dedicated to agriculture. The biggest issue faced in this region is housing. A permanent solution to this issue of housing can only be resolved through issuing land plots," Hussain asserted.

He then went on to say that the government has since announced that the agriculture project would be relocated to Fushidhiggaru, and instead Hope Island and Central Jail established in Uthuru Thila Falhu.

"Why should we take away the hopes of 19,000 families just to rehabilitate 300 children? As I see it, it is not a Central Jail that should be established in Uthuru Thila Falhu. It is not Hope Island that should be in Uthuru Thila Falhu," Hussain said.

In Hussain's opinion, people should not be kept confined on a separate island for rehabilitation, but instead rehabilitation should be carried out through integration with society.