Land plots from Male' area were not issued fairly: MP Thoriq

Mahibadhoo constituency MP Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) has said in parliament today that the previous government issued land plots for Hulhumale', GulhiFalhu and GiravaruFalhu unjustly amongst the citizens, and in a manner that caused significant loss to the State.

Thoriq said that the previous government led by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had issued 'land plots' from the sea in the run up to the presidential elections, and said that they should be ashamed to now complain about delays in issuing these plots.

Thoriq said that MDP had received a very low number of votes even despite having given away land plots in the election run up, which, he says, demonstrates that even the residents of Male' did not accept that allocation of the land plots had been conducted fairly.

He said that the land plots which had been issued to people in hardship who lacked housing now has cafe's operating out of ramshackle huts placed on them.

Thoriq said that the free distribution of expensive land from Hulhumale' and changing the master plan has led to major losses to the State.

He went on to say that reclaiming Hulhumale' Phase 3 to give away even more land led to the harbour being repurposed and ending up not having sufficient space for boats to dock in.

"The people of solid mind behind drafting the Hulhumale' master plan have handed in their resignations and walked away. Then they ask when is land going to be issued from GulhiFalhu... that can only be done once the place is first reclaimed, can't it?"

"Where is the justice? Some have to buy land for MVR 14 million. The next plot of land, from the other side of the road, is given away entirely for free. There are about 500,000 people in the Maldives. About 200,000 in Male' area. This includes people from islands as well. They are not given this same opportunity," Thoriq said.

Thoriq alleged that land worth MVR 8 billion has been given away for free under this scheme, which is a huge loss to the State.

The issue of land plots came up in parliament today following the summoning of Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr Ali Haidar for questioning regarding the issuance of land plots allocated during the previous administration's Binveriya housing scheme.

Opposition MDP staged a protest expressing discontent at the answers provided by the Minister. The Speaker subsequently ordered four MDP MPs, including PG Leader Ibrahim Nazil, to leave the chambers. With their refusal to leave, the sitting had to be adjourned.

Speaking in parliament today, the Minister said that 623 land plots out of the total 1,407 issued from Hulhumale' Phase 2 has been issued as of now. The remaining plots in Hulhumale' Phase 2 would be issued by the end of October, he added.

As for the land plots that had been issued from Gulhi Falhu, the Minister said he could not state a date when these can be handed over to recipients, citing several reasons.