Planning Minister: No plans of making migrants to Male’ eligible for land

Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam told the Parliament on Thursday that the government did not plan on making people who registered in Male’ Dhafthar after migrating from other islands eligible for land.

Aslam was summoned to the Parliament on Thursday to answer questions from parliamentarians.

Hoarafushi MP Ahmed Saleem noted that some of the people on Dhafthar were ineligible for land, and asked Aslam whether the government had any plans of relaxing the rule.

Aslam responded that the land was solely for people from Male’.

“The government’s decision regarding issuance of land to Male’ people is that the land issued from Male’ will be for Male’ people alone, and not to people who migrated to Male’ from other islands and registered on Dhafthar,” he said.

Aslam said people who registered on Dhafthar because they had nowhere else to register in will be eligible for land.

The Gedhoruverin Portal to submit applications for land and flats for residents of Male’ has received thousands of applications.

The minimum size of a plot of land offered is 1,250 square feet and the maximum is 4,000 square feet.

Eligible parties can submit individual applications or with their family.

Eligibility criteria for land:

• Being at least 18 years of age
• No history of registration in any other island, except Male’
• Lack of land more 600 square feet registered to own name in Male’ area
• Agreeing to relinquish ownership of any land in Male’ area lower than 600 square feet
• Lack of housing under a government social housing scheme
• Agreeing to relinquish ownership of land he/she stands to inherit from Male’ area
• Lack of history of giving or selling land in Male’ area