Muizz plans to develop Male region with 65,000 houses; 7 regional urban centres
Under his housing policy, Muizz announced to construct 2,000 housing units in Male and 500 housing units in Villimale.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Opposition PPM-PNC presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz on Sunday unveiled the housing chapter in the opposition’s manifesto, seeking to further develop the Male region with a total of 65,000 houses and establish seven regional urban centres in the north and south of the Maldives.
Muizz, who is campaigning for next month's presidential election, has 19 chapters in his manifesto. The chapter on 'housing and urbanisation' was launched at a rally held in Hulhumale Phase II on Sunday evening.
The chapter contains a total of 39 pledges. As Muizz has already announced, the first thing in the chapter is to ensure housing for every eligible citizen over the age of 18 who apply for a land or an apartment.
In providence, 65,000 housing units will be developed in the Male region. It also includes developing the Male region as the main pillar of national development for the next 20 years.
Describing the promise, Muizz said:
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Housing will be provided by developing the Gulhifalhu and Giravaru lagoons, which are currently being excavated by the government, and connecting them to Male, Hulhumale and Villimale by road
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Dredging and developing the K. Fushidhiggaru lagoon, which was initially planned during Muizz's tenure as housing minister under former President Abdulla Yameen, and linking it to the Male region via high speed ferry service
Muizz’s 65,000 housing plan is:
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1,280 hectares of land will be reclaimed from the Fushidhiggaru lagoon; that is, three times as much as Phase I and II of Hulhumale combined; it will provide 11,970 plots and 26,500 housing units
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1,050 plots and 2,800 housing units will be provided by reclaiming land from the Giraavaru lagoon
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304 hectares of land will be reclaimed from Gulhifalhu lagoon; it’s bigger than Phase II of Hulhumale; it will provide 3,500 plots and 8,700 housing units
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The plots will measure between 1,400 acres and 1,650 acres
"What will happen? Housing will be guaranteed for the people of Male. Housing is guaranteed for all the people living in Male and for all those who want to come to this region," he said Muizz said at the rally.
Muizz said that resolving the housing problem would also resolve many other related problems. The chapter on housing in his manifesto will provide relief, he said.
"This manifesto is very ambitious. However, the things in it are things that will hopefully be achieved. We will not make a promise without knowing how to fulfil it," Muizz said.
The next highlight of the chapter is the development of Maldives into seven regions, including three urban centres in the north and four in the south.
Muizz listed the seven areas at the rally:
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North - H.A, H.Dh. and Sh. atolls; the main hub of the north will be H.Dh. Kulhudhuffushi
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South - G.A., G.Dh., Fuvahmulah and Addu; the main hub of the region is Addu
Some of the other highlights of the chapter are:
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By issuing concessional loans to new builders and completion of stalled houses; these include loans at 5% interest rate for new housing construction
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Assistance in the construction of houses under a special scheme for the construction of houses on the land given by the incumbent government
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2,000 housing units in Male and 500 housing units in Villimale
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Some of the categories covered by the new housing scheme: 3,000 flats for youth, as well as those who have received documents from the Hiyaa project but have not received flats.
