The "Veshi Fahi Male'" manifesto of Democrats presidential candidate Ilyas Labeeb was launched on Sunday night with a proposal to include Kaafu atoll Thulusdhoo, Huraa and Himmafushi in the Greater Male' area's jurisdiction.
The manifesto of the new party led by former President Mohamed Nasheed observed that establishing essential services and settling a population in reclaimed land from the Gulhifalhu and Giraavaru lagoons would take a long period.
The reason for the estimation is the Hulhumale' project, the manifesto noted.
"What the Hulhumale' project shows is that reclaiming land, protecting the shore, laying pipes, building roads and establishing other essential services and facilities needed for habitation takes a good 10 to 15 years in addition to the land reclamation period," the manifesto stated.
Ilyas believes that families would be further impoverished if they had to wait until essential services and infrastructure could be established after the lagoons are reclaimed, the manifesto stated, citing the experience of the Hulhumale' project.
One solution proposed by the manifesto is to include three inhabited islands in Male' atoll in the jurisdiction of the Greater Male' region. The islands are the atoll's capital Thulusdhoo as well as Himmafushi and Huraa.
After the jurisdiction is expanded, the aim is to provide housing for 25,000 families within five years.
In order to solve congestion in Male', offering land plots or condominium units along with fair compensation in exchange for homes in the most densely-packed blocks was also included as a policy.
The purpose of the policy is to provide spacious housing for residents crammed into small concrete cubes and to clear out and open up overcrowded neighborhoods.
