President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has promised to handover the flats to the recipients under the previous government’s ‘Gedhoruveriyaa” housing scheme before the upcoming Holy month of Ramadan.
The former administration led by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) initiated the development of 4,000 flats in Hulhumale' under the Gedhoruveriyaa Scheme. However, the project remained incomplete at the end of the term. Ahead of the conclusion of then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s term, the government released a final list of flat recipients. However, after a case was filed regarding the list, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) revealed that only 20 percent of the listed recipients met eligibility criteria.
The discovery by the ACC had forced the current Administration to conduct a thorough review of the recipients list.
Speaking to reporters after ending his three-day visit to islands of Huvadhu Atoll, President Muizzu said the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has been conducting the review of the list and handing over the flats as soon as possible.
"With the new changes I have brought, the work of the Housing Ministry has been placed under the mandate of Minister [Abdulla] Muththalib. The work done during the past year is also being reviewed and we are trying to wrap it up as soon as possible,” he said.
President also acknowledged the longstanding housing shortage in the country, adding that the government will seek contractors for all the key housing projects this month.
He also said the housing projects would be largely designed on a regional basis, where a single contractor will be sought to carry out the projects in a specific region, which according to the President will be more cost effective.
This Administration has set aside USD97.3 million for housing projects in this year’s State budget with another USD64.9 million dedicated for low-interest housing loans.