Govt. to go ahead with signing new Gulhifalhu land agreements despite complaints

Housing Ministry has decided to go ahead with signing the new agreements for the land plots awarded under the former administration’s ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme before handing over the land plots despite mounting complaints over the new policies by the current administration on issuance of land conflicting with the original agreements.

The current administration revised the original agreements for the land plots, citing it had legal contradictions.

Article 11 (a) of the Land Act details state dwellings for residential purposes can only be awarded to Maldivian citizens who do not already own a state or private dwelling, a government-constructed flat, or co-own a building or part of a dwelling that has been legally divided under Section 15 of the Act.

Article 11 (c) of the Act specifies that no individual may be granted more than one dwelling on the same island. However, it allows for the issuance of an additional dwelling on a different island for residential use, under a lease determined by the government in accordance with regulations established under the Act.

The original agreements under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme required recipients who owned a land plot of 600 square feet or less within the “Malé area” to forfeit their ownership. However, the revised agreements have expanded this condition, changing the wording from “Malé area” to “anywhere in the Maldives.”

Amid concerns from Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Association regarding the matter, Housing Ministry, via a statement on Wednesday, said the Ministry came across provisions in the original agreement which conflicts the Land Act while reviewing the agreement to resign following changes the location of land plots in Gulhifalhu.

The Ministry pointed out that recipients of land plots have already begun construction after the plots were handed over. Nevertheless, the Ministry stressed that a complete solution to the issue cannot be achieved by just revising the agreements with recipients of land from Gulhifalhu.

However, to expedite issuing land plots drawn by Gulhifalhu land recipients during the new draw held on May 30^th, Housing Ministry said they have decided to sign new agreements in order to amend the article specifying the details of the land plot awarded to the recipient.

“The Ministry notes that it is in discussions with the Attorney General’s Office to achieve a comprehensive solution to the issue of the agreement executed with land recipients conflicting with the Maldives Land Act,” the Ministry added.

Former chief justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi has also raised concerns regarding the matter, citing that the law does not recognize publicizing a new regulation on land issuance which contradicts the original agreements executed under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme before the land plots are handed over. Meanwhile, Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Association has warned that they will pursue legal action “to the end”, if the revised regulation that contradicts the original agreements is not changed back. 

Although the former administration had taken the draw among Gulhifalhu land recipients – the current administration initiated another draw after changing the land use plan, which changed to the location of their plots.

The government opened appointment bookings for signing the new agreements and the handover of the new registries on Monday.