23-Year-Old Unfulfilled Land Allocation Behind Discounted Hulhumalé Plot Sale

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development has clarified that a discounted sale of a plot in Hulhumalé to Ahmed Zahir was approved to resolve a 23-year-old government land allocation that had never been fulfilled.

The clarification follows the circulation of documents on social media showing the government’s decision to sell a 1,250-square-foot plot in Hulhumalé Phase 2 to Zahir for MVR 468,750.

According to the Ministry, Zahir was originally allocated a 904-square-foot plot in Hulhumalé Phase 1 in 2003 for MVR 339,000 under the “56 Plots Sold from the Town” scheme, administered by the then Maldives Housing and Urban Development Board.

The Ministry said official records, including an internal memo dated December 22, 2003, confirm the original allocation. However, despite repeated requests made to successive administrations over the past 23 years, the allocated land was never handed over to Zahir.

The current administration subsequently decided to resolve the long-standing issue, taking into consideration Zahir’s circumstances and the commercial terms agreed upon when the original allocation was made.

The Ministry explained that the Phase 2 plot offered to Zahir was a vacant government plot that had previously been allocated to an individual who was later found to be ineligible under the previous administration’s “Binveriyaa” scheme. The allocation was cancelled and the plot was reclaimed by the government.

As part of the current arrangement, Zahir must also relinquish his rights to a separate plot he had received from Gulhifalhu under the “Binveriyaa” scheme.

The Ministry emphasized that the decision was not a new preferential allocation, but an effort to address an outstanding commitment dating back to 2003.

Given the sensitivity surrounding government land and housing, the Ministry has also taken steps to ensure transparency and accountability in the process by referring the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The Ministry said the final agreement to hand over the land will only be signed after receiving guidance from the ACC and obtaining formal legal advice.

The move reflects the administration’s stated approach of addressing long-pending housing and land issues while ensuring that government decisions are subjected to appropriate legal and oversight mechanisms.