People who relinquish one-room flats to have opportunity again

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated last night that he will find a way for those who gave up the one-room flats given by the government to apply for another housing scheme or plot.

The President said this as some attendees at the consultative meeting last night for Maafannu residents had brought up the issue of one-room flats. 

President Muizzu said that the government is looking for a positive housing scheme application process for those who gave up their one-room flats.

"And so hopefully I will make a decision regarding this matter soon and share it with you citizens. I realize the complexity of this issue. I will work to find a good solution to this," said President Muizzu at the meeting held at Thaajudheen School.

When questions regarding first time flat owners were asked, the President said that the category was announced during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, with it being annulled during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's (Ibu) administration. President Muizzu said that even though the building for first time flat owners was constructed during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, the flats were handed over during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration.

"That's why those buildings are not available. Nevertheless, it is one of our pledges to provide housing from a housing project outside of the current flats being built by the current government, for those who were supposed to get flats during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration but not given during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration," said President Muizzu while recalling pledges.

"That pledge is still there. We will work towards fulfilling it. Nothing will be taken from people again. Opportunities will be given to them exactly how we promised them."

The President said that if flats have been taken from anyone, when flats or plots are being given away through another housing scheme, they will for example only see whether they receive a flat from the 4,000 flats from FDC or the opportunity to receive a plot. He also said that nothing like that will be done, with the President assuring their pledges will be honored to the letter.

President Muizzu went on to say that 10,000 plots will be built specifically for Male' residents in order to solve the issue regarding residents of Male' who do not have their own plots.

An individual is considered a resident of Male' if they are born in Male', those who have a plot registered in Male' and those who are in the registry.

The current government has written up a policy to solve the housing crisis of Male'.

President Muizzu said last night that there will be 3,000 plots specially for long-time residents of Male', 1,500 flats under housing regulations for those who gave up their plots and 450 plots for those who were denied an inheritance after their mother passed.

"Once these 15,000 plots are given away, this will see the issue of housing be solved for many residents of Male'," said the President.

President Muizzu also brought up the land reclamation schedule for Hulhumale' Phase 3 and Giraavaru Falhu.

President Muizzu went on to say that two large dredgers are being used to reclaim land for Hulhumale' Phase 3, with the work to be completed by the end of the month. With that, the President gave his assurance that the government will give plots from Hulhumale' Phase 3 to those who have been awarded the plots.

President Muizzu said that once Hulhumale' Phase 3 is reclaimed by the end of the month, both the dredgers will be directed to Giraavaru Falhu for reclamation. The President has said in the past that the land reclamation of Giraavaru Falhu will take two to three months.

"The Giraavaru Falhu plots will be given away afterwards. Aside from the bridge site and other sites, Gulhifalhu plots are being given. We will be using this year's budget to begin work on the infrastructure, such as water, sewerage and electricity," said President Muizzu while giving details.

President Muizzu also highlighted that the two dredgers are currently working to reclaim land for Rasmale'.

On 1st December, President Muizzu announced that with one of the biggest dredgers in the world having been brought to Maldives, the work to reclaim land for Rasmale' has seen a threefold increase in speed. 

As that happened, around 100 hectares had been reclaimed for Rasmale'. This accounts for 10 percent of the project, or a bit more than half the size of Hulhumale' Phase 1.