Housing Ministry Seeks Legal Review Over Binveriya Scheme Land Agreements

The Ministry of Housing has announced that it will seek legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office regarding land allocation agreements made under the previous administration’s Binveriya housing scheme. 

The ministry stated that only the plot numbers in the new agreements for Gulhifalhu will be changed for the time being.

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According to a statement, the existing agreements appear to contradict the Maldives Land Act. The ministry cited Article 11(a) of the Act, which stipulates that residential land can only be granted to Maldivian citizens who do not already own titled or private land, a government-allocated flat, or a unit in a partitioned building.

While the law permits land allocation if individuals agree to relinquish previously held property, the Binveriya scheme used a different eligibility requirement. Under the scheme, individuals were required to forgo only property measuring less than 600 square feet within the Malé region.

This discrepancy, the ministry said, has necessitated a legal review to resolve the inconsistency with the law. The ministry is currently working with the Attorney General’s Office to develop a comprehensive solution to address the conflict.

Since assuming office, the government has revised the land use plan for Gulhifalhu twice, most recently conducting a redraw among land recipients in May. This led to the cancellation of previous land registrations and agreements.

The ministry noted that it intends to enter into new agreements with Gulhifalhu land recipients, modifying only the plot number. However, it also acknowledged that merely amending the existing agreements may not fully address the legal issues identified.

Further details on the proposed amendments have not been made public. The ministry stated that the results of the ongoing consultations with the Attorney General’s Office will guide the next course of action.