President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said land plots will be issued to Male' City's permanent residents free of cost. He disclosed the information in a letter sent to Male' City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in response to a letter the Mayor sent to the President.
In his letter, the Mayor had requested the President to issue the land plots to Male' residents for free instead of selling the land for profit. He pointed out that land is given to island residents without them having to buy the land.
In his response, the President said he announced earlier this month while delivering his annual address at the Parliament that the government would be providing 1,000 plots of land from Hulhumalé and at least 2,000 plots of land from Gulhifalhu to residents of Malé. He recalled that he promised to issue land to the permanent residents of Malé in the gravest need of housing by the end of the administrative term. He said he made no mention of selling land to Male' residents in his address.
The President further said he had forwarded the matters highlighted in the City Council's letter to the Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure.
In his annual address to the Parliament, President Solih had said adequate housing and homeownership was the single biggest need of the Maldivian people. He said that the construction of 5,000 housing units in Hulhumale' announced at the opening session of the Parliament last year, had been underway in Hulhumalé, and that work was due to begin on 2,000 additional housing units in Hulhumalé, which would be designated for Male' residents. He then spoke about issuing land to Male' residents from the Greater Male' Region.
God willing, land will be provided to the permanent residents of Malé in the gravest need of housing as promised by the end of this administrative term. Access to State resources should be guaranteed for all. Our goal is to work together to reach the same destination,' the President had said.
