Protest and petition in Hanimaadhoo over relocation plan
The government decided in February to relocate the Hirimaradhoo community, whose population is fewer than 300 people, to Hanimaadhoo.
Residents of HDh. Hanimaadhoo have launched a petition and held a protest against the government’s decision to relocate residents of HDh. Hirimaradhoo to the island.
The government decided in February to relocate the Hirimaradhoo community, whose population is fewer than 300 people, to Hanimaadhoo. Hirimaradhoo has since been removed from the list of inhabited islands.
President Mohamed Muizzu has said that housing for the relocated residents will be completed and handed over within a period of up to six years.
A protest was held in Hanimaadhoo on Sunday against the relocation plan.
A person involved in organising the petition told Dhauru that the signature campaign began on Saturday. More than 200 people had signed the petition as of Sunday.
The petition states that the government decided to relocate the people of Hirimaradhoo to Hanimaadhoo without consulting residents of Hanimaadhoo or giving them the opportunity to express their views.
According to the petition, the decision raises concerns about the future development of Hanimaadhoo.
“The existing small piece of land in Hanimaadhoo is not given to the people and youth of Hanimaadhoo for housing but is used for people from another island. It is injustice to the people and youth of Hanimaadhoo,” the petition states.
The petition also lists several concerns raised by residents.
It states that issues related to electricity, water and sewerage services on the island have not yet been resolved. It also claims that residents who have received new housing do not have land allocated to them.
The petition further states that some households do not receive electricity, while water and sewerage works in newly settled areas remain incomplete.
It also alleges that assistance promised by President Mohamed Muizzu for residents building houses has not been received.
The petition states that allocating about 200 plots for the relocation of residents from Hirimaradhoo would limit housing opportunities for young people and future generations in Hanimaadhoo.
Hanimaadhoo Council President Abdul Sattar Hassan said residents of Hirimaradhoo would be allocated housing in Hanimaadhoo while land would also be provided to residents of Hanimaadhoo.
He said about 500 plots would be allocated for residents of Hanimaadhoo.
Abdul Sattar added that residents prefer housing units rather than flats and noted that some people who receive houses do not receive land ownership.
