HDC Directs Removal of Unauthorised Plant Enclosures Near Hulhumalé Flats

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has issued an official notice directing residents across residential flats in Hulhumalé to dismantle unauthorised plant enclosures, fences, and structures erected in public spaces.

The state-owned corporation displayed public notices directly on plant displays, stipulating that owners must clear all plant enclosures and items placed in common public areas surrounding the flats before 12am today. The official notice, issued on Monday, states that residents erected these structures without obtaining prior clearance or permission from the authority.

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Over recent years, residents living on the ground floors of the flats—particularly within Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2—have converted adjacent vacant lands into private gardens. Residents have installed physical boundary fences, wooden frames, and netting around public grounds to cultivate personal produce, including mangoes, rose apples, papayas, chillies, and various other fruits, vegetables, and greens. Many occupants have also used these enclosed plots for personal storage and private recreation.

While these mini-farms have provided local green spaces and fresh produce, the practice has generated significant public concern. Neighbouring residents have reported that large, unmanaged trees and overgrown foliage obstruct pedestrian pathways and block natural light. Furthermore, authorities noted that standing water collecting inside discarded farming tubs, pots, and containers creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, posing a public health risk.

HDC warned that if owners fail to remove the fenced enclosures and clear the grounds by the set deadline, the corporation will clear the sites in collaboration with relevant government agencies. The authority will treat any items remaining after midnight on 20 August as abandoned property and stated that it accepts no liability for property damage or loss incurred during the removal process.

To clarify acceptable land use moving forward, HDC issued new public space guidelines alongside the notices. Under the updated guidelines, residents may still keep potted plants, place plant stands, grow small ground plants, set up outdoor seating, and use open areas for exercise or social gatherings. However, the guidelines strictly prohibit fencing off public land, occupying spaces for exclusive personal use, constructing permanent flooring or carpets, storing private equipment, and burning waste in common residential zones.