Housing minister: Hard to say when land can be issued from Gulhifalhu

Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar told the Parliament on Monday that he is unable to give an exact date on which the issuance of land can begin from Gulhifalhu under the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme.

At a parliamentary sitting on Monday morning, North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo) – a member of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – asked Haidar when the government will begin handing over land awarded from Gulhifalhu.

Haidar responded that he is unable to give an exact date on which the plots can be marked and the handover can begin.

He said that there were valid reasons why he is unable to give an exact date.

For one, he said that Gulhifalhu is currently being used as a worksite for the Thilamale’ Bridge project.

“The land reclamation isn’t even complete in Gulhifalhu. And second, Gulhifalhu is currently being used as a site for the bridge project. We have been informed that the site can’t be cleared until September next year,” he said.

Haidar said that the former MDP administration – which launched the ‘Binveriya’ scheme – awarded plots from Gulhifalhu “in a manner unfit for human inhabitation.”

He said that plots awarded “from the sea and the lagoon” cannot be truly considered land plots. He criticized the former administration, and said that the incumbent administration will handover land after actually completing land reclamation.

Haidar said that ministry officials met with recipients of land from Gulhifalhu for discussions, and has amended the land use plan accordingly.

He said that the amended land use plan is currently at the last stage of approval.

He also noted that some of the people awarded land from Giraavarufalhu have applied to change to Gulhifalhu.

Over 9,000 people were awarded plots from land reclaimed from Hulhumale’, Gulhifalhu and Giraavarufalhu under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme.