Nizar denies illegal plot allocation accusation

Addu Mayor Ali Nizar has denied accusations of illegal plot allocation yesterday to Sunwill Pvt Ltd made by Addu Meedhoo independent MP Abdul Rahman.

During the council hearing held yesterday, Nizar stated that plots that were allocated to Meedhoo and Addu islands for tourism had their designs changed, with them being submitted during official council hearings and passed.

"In truth, our council wants to bring big changes to the tourism zone plots in Feydhoo, Hithadhoo and more, aside from Meedhoo plots. We increase plot allocation for guest houses, along with the plots close to the guest houses being built," said Nizar.

Regarding the case that was submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Decentralization by Abdul Rahman, he made the accusation that there was no public announcement made in the allocation of a 17,000 square foot plot in the Addu Meedhoo tourism zone to Sunwill Pvt Ltd.

Abdul Rahman also made the accusation that the company was handed three slots under one plot, one for each of the three companies Sunwill shareholders had a stake in. As per the accusation, Sunwill was given a plot bigger than the 17,000 square foot plot after the agreement had been made by the city council.

Nizar stated that the plots were designed by the council and that they can bring changes to the plots.

"It cannot be done by MPs or state institutions. We were the ones who decided that the plots should be designed and developed for tourism. Any extra changes can be brought about under the council's discretion," said Nizar.

Nizar said that MP Abdul Rahman's accusation was being aimed at the plot that had been changed to be developed by combining the three plots that were allocated to Sunwill.

"We want to develop it in a big way. It is not required that the slots are to have 5,000 or 3,000 square feet. It is under the council's discretion to develop the area as a whole," said Nizar.

The case also states that Addu City Council Secretary General Imad Solih has familial stakeholders in Sunwill when the plot was allocated.

In response, Nizar said that his family are natives of Addu Hithadhoo and that they would have plots.

"The land owners are to also receive benefits under the relevant regulations. That is how the process occurs. It is something that occurs within the confines of the law, things that are decided and progressed via the city council," said Nizar.

Nizar stated that the MPs dissatisfaction in plot allocation is not the councils problem, and that councilors do not exist to do things as per the MPs wishes.

Nizar also stated that there is no form of corruption just because the MP was dissatisfied with the plot allocation.