The government has said that there will be no fraud in the land allocation process for Male' residents.
The government has said this after a recent article published in a newspaper raised concerns about the fairness of the land lottery, alleging it was rigged.
While land is issued from Hulhumale', Gulhifahu, and Giraavarufalhu, the article alleged a pattern where specific individuals on a predetermined list are assigned designated dates and time slots for selecting their lots during the draw. This arrangement seemingly tilts the odds in favor of Hulhumale selections. In cases where participants are unable to be present, a ministry representative steps in to make the selection on their behalf.
A Planning Ministry official told reporters on Friday that the process of opening and closing the box containing the selection papers is carried out in the presence of the individuals currently drawing their lots. Police are patrolling the area 24 hours a day to ensure security, the official said.
“The draw is being conducted in a transparent manner,” he said, stressing that the draw process precludes any possibility of manipulating the outcome to favor a specific location.
