Hanimaadhoo Council to Muthalib: Where has cooperation been lacking?

HDh. Hanimaadhoo Council has questioned allegations made by Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib that it has failed to cooperate with government efforts to develop housing for residents of HDh. Hirimaradhoo, who are set to be relocated to Hanimaadhoo.

Responding to a question from Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa during Monday's parliamentary sitting, Minister Muthalib stressed the need to expedite the relocation process for Hirimaradhoo residents to Hanimaadhoo.

"We are facing difficulties due to a lack of cooperation from the island’s council," the Minister stated.

The Minister also said the housing project intended for Hanimaadhoo residents had been delayed after the contractor failed to begin construction despite receiving an advance payment and later took the matter to court.

"However, I advise not to link the housing project for Hirimaradhoo residents with the existing Hanimaadhoo housing project. We are committed to proceeding with both," he added.

Responding to the Minister's remarks, Hanimaadhoo Council Vice President Firaq Mohamed told that the Ministry had already transferred the land designated for the Hirimaradhoo housing project under its own legal authority, alleging the council's refusal to allocate the site.

Firaq said that while the Ministry had assumed control of the land, the council's only concern was ensuring that the owners of palm trees and other vegetation on the site were compensated before any clearance work was carried out. He maintained that this was the sole issue contributing to the delay and that the council no longer had any authority over the matter.

"The question then remains: in what way have we failed to cooperate? We are completely unaware of any such instance," Firaq said.

He further stated that the council had invited Ministry officials to accompany its members on a visit to Hirimaradhoo to meet with residents.

"We proposed that the Ministry and the Council meet the people of Hirimaradhoo together, so we could collectively address any concerns and clarify the status of the cooperation they speak of," he added.

The Hirimaradhoo Council had initially requested that its residents be relocated to K. Thulusdhoo. However, on February 1, 2025, the government decided that the relocation would instead take place in Hanimaadhoo.

Following the decision, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assured residents that the required housing would be completed within 18 months, after which the homes would be handed over. The government also pledged to continue providing essential services on Hirimaradhoo for as long as residents remained on the island. The President later issued the official decree in late December to facilitate the relocation to Hanimaadhoo.

On June 25, the Hanimaadhoo Council also announced that the Hoarafushi Council had formally invited Hirimaradhoo residents interested in relocating to Hoarafushi instead. In response, the Hanimaadhoo Council opened a 30-day registration period for residents wishing to relocate to Hoarafushi.