Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib has stated that the agreement for distributing land plots under the ‘Binveriyaa’ scheme was changed due to conflicts with the law.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’ on Monday, the minister revealed that the changes to the agreement for distributing land plots under the Binveriyaa scheme were made because agreements made by the state “must not conflict with the law”.

The minister stated that Article 11 of the Land Act clearly outlines how residential plots are to be allocated.

According to Section (a) of the article, government land can only be allocated to individuals who do not already have a government land plot, a private land plot, a portion of a government or private land plot divided as per Article 15 of the Land Act, or an apartment in a government-built building or a condominium.

Further, the article notes that after the Land Act came into effect, no person can be given more than one residential plot on the same island. It also states that a person can only be given a government land plot for residential purposes on an island other than where they already have one, based on rent determined by the government and according to regulations made under the law.

The agreement made by the former government of the now-main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) stated that individuals should not have a private land or housing larger than 600 square feet registered in their name in the Greater Malé Region. In addition to this, if they had a government land less than 600 square feet registered in their name in the Greater Malé Region, they agreed to relinquish it according to the policy.

With changes to the Gulhifalhu Land Use Plan, the location of plots allocated to people under the Binveriyaa scheme in Gulhifalhu has changed. Due to this change, a new draw was held among those who were allocated plots.

The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure stated that with this change, the previously issued government land registrations for those receiving plots have been nullified. As the previously signed government land agreements have been voided, new registrations and agreements will be issued on an appointment basis starting today.