Issuance of new land registries for Gulhifalhu begins

The Housing Ministry on Saturday began issuing new registries to recipients of land from Gulhifalhu under the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme.

According to the ministry, the registries are being issued out of the land where the ministry’s former headquarters stood.

The location in question had been the scene of a massive fire that burned down a block of government buildings in Male’ City on December 12. The buildings housed the Housing Ministry, Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry and three sections of the Male’ City Council – including the Vital Registration Department.

The Gulhifalhu registries are being issued out of the building that housed city council departments.

According to the Housing Ministry, the registries are being issue based on order of bookings for appointment, and will be carried out from 09:00 am to 03:00 pm on working days.

Those who go to collect the registries are required to produce the original agreement and registry previously issued by the ministry.

The ‘Binveriya’ scheme was launched by the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, which announced plans to issue at least 2,000 plots from Gulhifalhu.

The incumbent People’s National Congress (PNC) administration revised this to 3,520 plots, including people who asked to have their plots switched from Giraavaru Falhu to Gulhifalhu.

Although the former administration had taken the draw among Gulhifalhu land recipients – the current administration initiated another draw after changing the land use plan, which changed to the location of the plots.

The incumbent administration had previously announced plants to amend the original land agreement for plots issued from Gulhifalhu citing conflict with law.

According to the original agreement, recipients were required to relinquish their claim to plots of state-owned land in the Male’ area that are smaller than 600 square feet. But under a new policy drafted by the Housing Ministry, recipients would have been required to relinquish their claim not just to land they own in Male’ area, but anywhere in the Maldives.

On Monday, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib said the amendment was required as the original agreement clashes with guideline for issuance of land defined under Article 11 of the Land Act.

The decision sparked concern from the thousands of people promised land from Gulhifalhu, with the Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Union threatening to take legal action over the amendment.

In an announcement on Wednesday, the Housing Ministry said they do not believe amending the Gulhufalhu agreements alone provides a holistic solution to the issue, and that they were consulting with the Attorney General’s office to find one.

In a post on X shortly after, Muthalib explained that the ministry has decided to keep the original agreement as it is and sign a new document regarding the change in plot number.

“This decision was made to ensure that the creation of new registrations and handover of land is carried out without any further delay,” he said.