New housing scheme covers Uthuru Thilafalhu as well, says pres

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced on Saturday that Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) is one of the areas that will be used to give land under a new scheme to provide housing to islanders living long term in Male.

Speaking at a rally held by the MDP at Sosun party camp on Saturday evening, the president announced that the UTF will be among the areas where housing will be provided to islanders living long term in Male.

"Then there is the land reclamation to provide housing to to islanders living long term in Male. Hopefully on Saturday evening, the scheme will be opened shortly," he said.

The president said the scheme would be open to people who have been living in the capital for 20 years and those who are registered in the Dhaftharu and have reached the age of 20, without any discrimination.

"One of the lagoons we have decided on for this is the UTF. It will be inhabited by Maldivians, not foreigners. The bridge will connect Male to Villimale, to Gulhifalhu, from Gulhifalhu to Thilafushi, from Thilafushi to Giraavaru Falhu lagoon, from Giraavaru Falhu lagoon to UTF," he said.

The president said this is to create a happy and peaceful country, and he will provide equal opportunities for every citizen.

The housing ministry announced on Saturday that more land and flats will be allocated in the Male area. These include more than 4,000 plots of land and 6,000 flats, state minister of the ministry Akram Kamaluddin said on Saturday.

The ministry said last week that it would launch a scheme to give land and flats to people from other islands who have lived in the city for over 20 years and those on the city's registry.

Addressing supporters at a rally in Galolhu last week, campaigning for the second round of the presidential election, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said he would give land and flats to those over 20 years old who are on the register and all those who prove their residence in the city for more than 20 years.

It is not yet known whether the flats and land will be allocated under the scheme by dredging additional lagoons or from the land currently being dredged by the government.

The government's Binnveriyaa scheme is currently being implemented in Hulhumale, Gulhifalhu and Giraavaru Falhu lagoon. More than 6,500 plots are allocated under the scheme.

UTF is reserved for the army and an Indian company has been awarded the development of a Coastguard harbour and docking facility at the lagoon. The opposition alleges that Indian troops will be stationed there and that it will be a covert Indian military base.