Ministry seeks AG advice on Binveriya land agreements

The Ministry of Housing has announced that it will seek legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office regarding the land allocation agreements made under the previous government’s Binveriya housing scheme, but that only the plot number in the new Gulhifalhu agreements will be changed for now.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said the existing agreements appear to be in conflict with provisions of the Maldives Land Act. Citing Article 11(a) of the Act, the ministry noted that residential land can only be granted to Maldivian citizens who do not already own titled or private land, a government-allocated flat, or a unit in a partitioned building.

The law allows for land to be allocated to individuals on the condition that they relinquish previously held property. However, the ministry said that under the Binveriya scheme, eligibility was determined by a different condition—requiring individuals to relinquish only property less than 600 square feet in the Malé region.

According to the statement, this inconsistency has prompted the need for a legal review. “The ministry is working with the Attorney General’s Office to find a comprehensive solution to resolve the legal conflict,” the statement said.

The government has redrawn the land use plan for Gulhifalhu twice since coming to power. A re-draw among land recipients was conducted in May. As a result, the previous land registrations and agreements were cancelled.

The ministry stated that it plans to enter into agreements with the recipients of Gulhifalhu land with only the plot number changed. However, the ministry clarified that simply amending existing agreements may not address all legal concerns.

“The ministry does not believe that the entire issue can be resolved by amending the agreements signed with the landowners in Gulhifalhu alone,” the statement added.

Details of the proposed amendments to the agreements have not been disclosed. The ministry indicated that the outcome of consultations with the Attorney General’s Office would inform further steps.