City council forms new committee after snubbing Housing Ministry

Mar 17, 2024, 11:05 AM
Mayor Adam Azim.

Mayor Adam Azim.

Male' Mayor Adam Azim set up a committee today after rejecting a committee formed by the government to include the Male' city council in important decisions related to the Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya schemes.

Adam Azim said the committee formed today includes Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh and four council members. They are:

  • Ahmed Zameer
  • Mariyam Nazima Mohamed Faiz
  • Aishath Nizlee Rasheed
  • Mohamed Areesh

"We will send this committee to the ministry today," Azim said.

The city council recently approved a resolution for its participation in awarding flats and land plots to Male' residents and informed the Housing Ministry in a letter. However, the ministry formed a committee that included council members without any consultation with the council.

After evaluating a list of the first 4,000 recipients of flats under the previous government's Gedhoruveriya scheme, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said 59 percent of recipients did not meet the eligibility criteria. The commission also found problems in the application forms of 19.7 percent of recipients who met the criteria.

The previous government decided to provide flats to all eligible applications who submit forms to the Gedhoruveriya scheme. Of the 20,697 people who applied, 15,046 applicants were deemed to be eligible.

The 4,000 flats in the first round were to be awarded to applicants eligible for three-bedroom apartments who scored above 76 marks and to applicants eligible for two-bedroom apartments who scored above 73 marks.

Following the ACC investigation, the Housing Ministry decided to re-evaluate the flat list. However, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu previously assured that all applicants included in lists gazetted by the previous government for awarding flats and land plots will be provided housing.

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