Ministry: Name of Indian on land recipients’ list a mistake

Planning Ministry, on Wednesday, stated that inclusion of the name of a former Indian national who became a Maldivian citizen was included in the list of recipients of land that was recently publicized was by mistake.

The government publicized the preliminary list of recipients of land under its ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme on Monday.

They immediately came under scrutiny over the inclusion of Habeeb Rahimaan Mohamed Hanifa who was granted Maldivian citizenship in 2019. As per the list, Habeeb, with 62 points, can join his application with another applicant to receive the land.  Habeeb, who is married to a Maldivian, is registered to Ma. Malikuview in Male’ City. After being granted Maldivian citizenship, Habeeb also has a Maldivian identity card and a passport.

State Minister for Planning Akram Kamaluddin, on Wednesday, told Sun that his name was included in the list by mistake. On this note, he said the necessary amendments will be made when compiling the final list.

Akram stressed that various corrections will be brought to the preliminary list publicized when compiling the final list.

15,164 applications were submitted for land under the ‘Binveriya’ Housing scheme. That is, 23,801 people. Of these, 12,794 forms or 19,857 people are eligible. The government has decided to give land to all those who meet the requirements.

The minimum size of land allocated by the government in the Male’ area is 1,250 acres. For applications submitted by more than one person, 400 acres of land will be added for each additional person. If more than seven people are involved in one application a total of 4,000 acres will be given.