Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib stated tonight that instead of keeping the land plots allocated to Malé residents from Hulhumale' Phase 2 and Hulhumale' Phase 3 solely for residential purposes, they will be made available for commercial use.
Speaking at a ceremony held tonight in the area to mark the completion of installing additional lifts in the Hiyaa towers, the Minister stated that the services required by the public cannot be provided solely through the land plots currently under the ownership of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
The Minister noted that the land plots owned by HDC have decreased because the previous plan was altered and more than 2,000 land plots were allocated from Hulhumale' to Malé residents.
According to the Minister, under the current situation, the thinking should be that every place built to provide services to the public does not necessarily have to be constructed on an HDC-owned plot.
"We need to allow the development of plots allocated to citizens on a commercial basis to generate profits from those lands, and also pave the way for the residents living here to receive services," the Minister said.
"At the moment, those land plots are heavily restricted. Permission is being given in a specific manner solely for residential purposes." he said.
Muththalib stated that the government's intention is to find ways for the residents of Hulhumale' to receive necessary services through investments made by private individuals on their own land plots. As examples of this, he highlighted pre-schools, clinics, and shopping complexes.
The Minister stated that land plots allocated for residential purposes in Malé can also be used for all purposes, including commercial ones; therefore, that opportunity must also exist for citizens in Hulhumale'. He added that this would not only benefit the land owners, but would also expand the economy of Hulhumale', create jobs and businesses, and provide services.
"The opportunity to provide these mentioned services must be facilitated within these more than 2,000 land plots allocated to ordinary citizens. Therefore, the government will work to facilitate opportunities to adequately utilize the land plots in Hulhumale' in a manner that brings convenience, ease, and prosperity to the citizens," the Minister said.
Under the previous government's "Binveriyaa" scheme, land plots were allocated to Malé residents from Hulhumale' Phase 2 and 3, Gulhifalhu, and Giraavaru Falhu solely for residential use. It was also conditioned that those land plots could not be used on a commercial basis.
