JP targets to hand over most of pledged 30k flats in 18 months
"It means that the money for this project will be in the state budget even when our presidency starts. So, the work will continue from day one".
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
JP leader Gasim Ibrahim aims to complete and hand over most of the 30,000 housing units promised in the manifesto within 18 months of taking office, the party said on Sunday.
As part of the panel discussions on the main parts of the manifesto of Gasim and his running mate Dr Ameen Ibrahim, the panel discussion held at the party's headquarters in M. Kunooz on Sunday focused on the promise of housing.
Open to questions from the audience, the panel discussion, which began at 9pm, saw a member of the public asking why every government does not fulfill its housing promises by the end of its term and what is the JP's solution.
In response to this question, former Keyodhoo MP Moosa Nizar, who is on the manifesto committee, said one of the main reasons why housing projects are not being completed is the governments' attitude towards them.
“Our goal is to hopefully complete most of the amounts we promise within a maximum of just 18 months of our housing projects,” he said.
Regarding the way governments have previously carried out housing projects, Moosa Nizar said that after formulating housing projects, the work can only start after receiving a small amount of money from a foreign aid organization or country.
After a few years, the foundation stone of a project is laid and the work starts after a five-year period, he said.
The JP’s approach to solving that is:
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The JP government will start spending on housing projects from the state budget
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If the state budget can be added by a billion of Rufiyaa every year, we will include money for housing projects
"It means that the money for this project will be in the state budget even when our presidency starts. So, the work will continue from day one," he said.
The promises made under the housing policy in the JP manifesto are:
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30,000 housing units will be built to provide housing to all those who need it
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Construction and handover of 15,000 housing units in the Male area
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Construction and handover of housing units in the atolls; No specific number was specified
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18,000 first homes to provide housing for young people starting their lives after marriage
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In addition to Hiyaa flats, rent waivers for police and army flats; police and army flats to be completed during the first term of the presidency
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Construction and handover of 1,000 more housing units for police and army within three years
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Lending at 10% equity and 5% interest for first home financing
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Lend at 10% equity and 5% interest for construction of houses on family or landed property
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Sale of 6,000 price-controlled housing units as Ujaala Gedhoru
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Commercial sale of 6,000 housing units as Nala Gedhoru
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Housing for judges under a special housing scheme; Gasim has said that the judges will be provided with free housing so that they can live with their families
