Muththalib says free land policy will continue if demanded by public

Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib on Sunday said that, while he does not personally support the allocation of free land, the government would continue the policy if it is demanded by the public.

The government announced in November that it would allocate 15,000 plots of land in Rasmale, a reclaimed area in the K. Fushidhiggaru Falhu lagoon, as part of a state-led development project.

On April 25, Minister Muththalib said it was not appropriate to continue allocating land free of charge over the long term. At the time, he noted that such a policy decision could not be changed by him alone and would require amendments to existing laws by Parliament.

Responding to questions from Daur at a press conference at the President’s Office on Sunday, the minister reiterated that he does not support the policy on ideological grounds. However, he explained that the government must take public expectations into account.

He said the allocation of free land has been a long-standing state practice and that many people believe land should be provided without charge as part of housing policy.

“Land is one of the basic requirements for housing in the Maldives. Therefore, people believe that land should be allocated free of charge,” he said.

Muththalib also noted that island councils already allocate free land from reclaimed areas in rural islands. He said there is no major difference between the cost of dredging land in rural areas and in urban areas.

“Dredging land in rural areas is not cheaper than dredging land in Malé. The cost is similar. The issue in the Malé area is that the value of land is higher,” he said.

The minister added that if the government is able to allocate free land from reclaimed areas in the Malé region, it would not be an issue.