Minister: About 500 lands were vacated in Mal

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Dr. Mohamed Muiz has said that 507 lands were vacated to the state when people won flats and houses in Hulhumalé and for flats won from Malé.

Talking to the media about the decisions made by the Social Council at the press conference at the President’s Office today, Minister Muiz said that the state has not made a previous decision regarding such lands. But after some research, the Social Council has made a decision on those lands.

The Minister said that if the land is too small to build a building or to be used for a specific purpose, the Council decided to give the opportunity to buy the land for those who have a claim to it.

“For example if a small space have been left when relocating to another place, if there is no way we can use that piece of land, the thinking is to sell the piece to the others living on that space at a price the state decides.” Minister Muiz said.

The Housing Minister said that if the area is compact has have trouble finding parking space, they have decided to use the land as a parking area. And if the place cannot be used as a parking zone, the Minister said that it would be developed as a green area or a park.

“When making parking areas, we are thinking to establish a parking system that uses small space to park a large number of vehicles like other countries.” The Housing Minister said.

The Minister also said that they are thinking about relocating utility out boxes on the street to those small lands.