Azim calls City Council’s exclusion from flat list review committee unfair

Male’ City Mayor, Adam Azim has called the exclusion of Male’ City Council from the committee evaluating the Gedhoruveriya scheme recipients’ list unfair.

Previously, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that the council members, elected by Male’ citizens should be involving in matters related to their rights. The council had formed a committee to work with the Ministry of Housing in the evaluation process.

While speaking on SSTV’s “Baaru Hathareh” program, Azim said that despite the council’s committee already formed, their exclusion from the joint-evaluation committee raised concerns, despite the authority receiving updates about ongoing works led by the ministry.

“We requested that we need to be present during evaluation. Because we do not believe it is the correct practice, and we do not have to accept the list they issue claiming as the final and correct one,” Azim commented.

Since the government has announced housing will be awarded to those most in need after thorough assessment, Azim said it would only be ideal with the council’s involvement, as the authority is at best position to understand the needs of the citizens.

The mayor claimed the exclusion of councilors, in matters related to the rights of their constituents, was unfair and called for their involvement.

“I once again implore from those in charge in the efforts to involve the committee of Male’ City Council, otherwise we cannot believe this proceeded transparently,” he added.

Although Gedhoruveriya Scheme’s recipients list was announced previously, awarding the units based on the list was halted on the orders of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) citing discrepancies.

Progress of the scheme paused owing to a lengthy criminal investigation led by ACC, after which it permitted the government authorities to commence issuing flats after factoring in some considerations the commission had instructed.

Several individuals lodged complaints regarding the 4,000 housing units under the scheme. ACC had received 325 complaints, after which the commission revealed 59.6 percent of the applicants to the scheme were ineligible.

Male’ residents have also protested over the significant delays on the part of current administration in issuing housing units and land plots under ‘Gedhoruveriya’ and ‘Binveriya’ social housing schemes launched during the former government.