Mayor urges not to hide behind economic slump to delay housing
Azim said the fulfilment of housing rights cannot be delayed or stopped for any reason as many people live in very difficult conditions in the city.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Male Mayor Adam Azim has urged the government not to cite the country's financial condition or economic slump as reasons to deny the people the properties and flats acquired by the previous government's schemes to housing to the people living in the Male area.
Azim said this after a meeting with reporters after the newly formed flat committee sought the advice of the city council on the issue of stalled flats and land schemes.
The city council also held an exchange with some of those who have raised their voices on the issue. They were also involved in the press conference.
If you take something back, you have to explain very clearly why you are seizing it. And the flat list should be made public. I don't think it is even legal to take away something that has been given.
Azim said the biggest concern of the people is the delay in the implementation of the former MDP government's policy to ensure housing for the people of Male.
Azim said the fulfilment of housing rights cannot be delayed or stopped for any reason as many people live in very difficult conditions in the city.
"The people elect us to solve the problems faced by the people and to provide quick solutions. Under no circumstances do the people want to hear that we [the government] are unable to solve the people’s issues because we have fallen into a pit or a deep ditch," Azim said.
Azim added:
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When he was elected mayor, the people's biggest request was to find a quick solution to the housing problem
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The Flat Committee will send the recommendation to the Housing Ministry next Wednesday
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He further called on the government to conduct investigations into the matter and hand over the properties to all those on the list without delay
Azim said the situation should be assessed based on the situation a person was in when he/she submitted the application, and nothing should be taken away based on a person’s changing circumstances.
"If you take something back, you have to explain very clearly why you are seizing it. And the flat list should be made public. I don't think it is even legal to take away something that has been given," Azim said.
The ACC has launched an investigation into complaints about the list of 4,000 flats announced under the Gedhoruveriya scheme in the last government. The investigation found that:
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Qualified, no issues in 20.7% applications
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Despite being eligible, 19.7% had problems with the applications
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59.6% of applications are ineligible
Following the investigation, the ACC has asked a special committee to review the flat list. The Housing Ministry has since set up an advisory committee to make decisions on the Binnveriyaa and Gedhoruveriyaa scheme.
