The Housing Ministry has decided to change more than 1,300 plots awarded from the Giraavaru lagoon to Gulhifalhu, contrary to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's pledge not to change the location of plots awarded under the previous government's housing scheme.
The Housing Ministry announced that 1,347 plots would be changed from Giraavaru lagoon to Gulhifalhu, including 193 plots of 1,250 square feet, 663 plots of 1,650 square feet, 487 plots of 2,050 square feet and four plots of 2,450 square feet.
The government cited the lack of space in Giraavaru as the reason for changing the plots.
"As plots had been awarded from Giraavaru without designating adequate land for essential services in the area, and since plots cannot be handed out in the number that was awarded after the Giraavaru land use plan is changed to include these services, some of the plots awarded from the Giraavaru lagoon are due to be changed to Gulhifalhu," the Housing Ministry's announcement stated.
Despite citing lack of space as the reason for changing more than 1,300 plots awarded from the Giraavaru lagoon, the government has also decided to build flats in the reclaimed land. President Dr. Muizzu announced the building of flats last week. The flats would be built on additional land to be reclaimed from the Giraavaru lagoon, the government said.
The ministry invited applications from those who wish to change plots from Giraavaru to Gulhifalhu. The government did not say how it would proceed if the requests are fewer than the number of plots to be changed.
But President Dr. Muizzu pledged repeatedly that plots would be handed over from the same location. The President reiterated the pledge at a campaign rally on Friday last week.
"I am pledging to hand over the plot or the flat from where it was decided to be awarded, including plots that were awarded from the unreclaimed area, from the lagoon. We remain under that pledge. God willing, we will fulfill that pledge as such," the President said.
