‘Gedhoruveriya’ flat list released after one-year wait

The Housing Ministry on Thursday afternoon released the list of the recipients of the 4,000 housing units under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme after a verification process that lasted over a year.

The 4,000 units were developed in Hulhumale’ Phase II by the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC). It is the first of housing units built under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme, a social housing project launched by the former administration.

The original list of recipients of the flats, which was released during the last days of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, was the subject of an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), following allegations of irregularities and corruption in the award of the flats.

 The corruption watchdog ordered for the suspension of the issuance of flats, before finally giving the Housing Ministry the go-ahead to proceed in February 2024, after which the Housing Ministry initiated a review of the applications which lasted over a year.

The new list was released by the Housing Ministry on Thursday afternoon.

އުސޫލު ނަންބަރު 20-ޖީ / 2022 (ގެދޮރުވެރިޔާ ސްކީމުގެ ދަށުން ފްލެޓް ދޫކުރުމުގެ އުސޫލު) ގެ ދަށުން ދޫކުރުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ 4000 ފްލެޓްއާއި ގުޅޭhttps://t.co/jWyZLUvVJL pic.twitter.com/I8uqZegQ5J

— Ministry of Construction, Housing & Infrastructure (@MoCImv) February 27, 2025

Speaking to reporters ahead of the release of the new list, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib said that the incumbent People’s National Congress (PNC) administration referred to the point scheme published on the Government Gazette in 2022 in reviewing the applications.

According to the point scheme, applications would need minimum 73 points to be eligible for two-bedroom flats and minimum 76 points for three-bedroom flats. Meanwhile, the remaining three-bedroom flats were supposed to be awarded through a draw among applicants who score 75 points.

Muthalib said that as per the original list, 1,218 applicants were deemed eligible for two-bedroom flats after scoring above 73 points, and 3,721 were deemed eligible for two-bedroom flats with 75 points.

He said that the Housing Ministry reviewed the applications of these 4,939 individuals, and found irregularities in the award of appoints to 53 percent of them.

Muthalib said that following verification, total 1,820 applicants were deemed eligible; 1,423 out of 3,721 on the original list for three-bedroom flats, and 397 out of 1,218 on the original list for two-bedroom flats.

Muthalib said that the handover of flats to the 1,820 eligible applicants will begin once the list is released. He added that others will have one month to lodge complaints via the portal.