Govt deny awarding flats to people MPs want
Before the lists were released, there were reports that some MDP MPs had the opportunity to include the names of those they wanted to include.
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By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Housing minister Mohammed Aslam on Monday denied allegations that each pro-government MP has been allowed to nominate 10 people to receive flats under the government's Gedhoruveriya social housing scheme.
The provisional list of land recipients under the government's Binveriya has been released on Monday.
Before the lists were released, there were reports that some MDP MPs had the opportunity to include the names of those they wanted to include.
At Monday's press conference, when asked about it, Aslam denied the reports.
"People text me too. They text the others [committee that reviewed the applications] here... They call up and ask us to check on their application. Then I'll be saying something like, 'Noted, okay, yes', something like that," Aslam said.
However, nothing of the sort happened, Aslam said, adding that a list would not be made according to the wishes of certain people.
The Binnveriya scheme is designed to allot land from Male for natives of the capital city. The Gedhoruveriya scheme is meant to provide flats to natives as well as residents who have lived in Male for over 15 years.
Earlier, the housing ministry had said that around 36,000 applications had been received for the two schemes:
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For land – 15,164 applicants
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Three-bedroom apartments - 14,489 applicants
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Two-bedroom apartments - 6,208 applicants
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Total - 35,861 applicants
Under the Binveriya scheme, the land will be allotted by reclaiming Hulhumale and Gulhifalhu as well as Giraavaru lagoon. The total size of the land earmarked for allotment under the scheme is 3.7 million sqft. According to the ministry, the number of plots to be allotted will be decided based on the size of the plot to be allotted to individual applications selected for allotment.
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The minimum size of the plot available for an application is 1,250 sqft
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For joint applications, each additional participant will be assigned an additional 400 sqft
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If more than seven people participate in the joint application, the total size will be capped at 4,000 sqft
Meanwhile, the government is yet to publicise the list of beneficiaries under the Gedhoruveriya scheme, which is designed to award flats from the Male region to long-term residents of the capital.
State-run Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) plans to build 4,000 housing units in Hulhumale Phase II under the Gedhoruveriya scheme. All the housing units will be completed in 2025, the housing ministry had earlier said.
The 4,000 housing units are being constructed through Indian loans and by two Indian companies.
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India's JMC Projects has been awarded 2,000 units at a cost of USD 137 million
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India's NBCC has been awarded USD 130 million to build the remaining 2,000 units
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These units will be developed as 17 or 18-storey towers
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32 towers to be constructed; each tower will have 128 apartments
These housing units include:
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1,200 two-bedroom apartments; 650 sqft in each apartment
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2,800 three-bedroom apartments; 900 sqft in each apartment
