MP Abbas calls on govt to seize plots awarded 'from lagoons'

A lawmaker from the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has called on the government to seize the plots  awarded "from the seas and lagoons" under the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration’s ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme.

In a visit to the Parliament last week, Housing Minister Dr. Ali Haidar said that plots awarded “from seas and lagoons” can’t really be called plots of land. His sentiments were supported by lawmakers from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), who hold a supermajority at the Parliament.

During a parliamentary debate on Monday morning on an urban development bill, Mohamed Abbas, who represents the Velidhoo constituency, said that the law does not recognize the issuance of plots from seas and lagoons.

He said that it was therefore illegal.

“There’s no mention of issuing plots from lagoons. There’s no mention of issuing it from seas. Why not seize these illegally awarded plots? Why are we pretending like all these plots were awarded rightfully and trying hand it over? There’s still time,” he said.

Abbas accused the MDP administration of “distributing land reclaimed using taxpayer money to select individuals free of charge.”

He called on the government to investigate “individuals involved in perpetrating such crimes” and seize their property.

“What even is this? This cannot be done. The plots awarded from lagoons are void from the very inception,” he said.

The remarks come after Abbas last week demanded that members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) resign over the ‘Binveriya’ scheme.

The delay in handover of housing awarded under the former administration’s housing schemes has sparked protests in the capital.

A petition submitted to the Parliament asking the government not to cancel the list of recipients of the first 4,000 flats under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme is currently under review by the Petitions Committee.

However, the government has provided assurance the flats and land will be handed over to rightful recipients.