The presidential committee investigating issues related to previous housing projects of the government has revealed flats had been awarded to 9,517 individuals, which is 2500 more than the number of flats developed by the government.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Committee on National Heritage and Development, member of the committee Ahmed Thoha said a total of 2,500 letters had been issued awarding more flats than the number developed. Thoha clarified 23,000 forms have been processed from over 25,000 forms submitted when the former government opened applications for the flats. He said over 21,000 forms have now been evaluated by the committee.
Speaking in response to questions from parliamentarians, members of the committee said visits to evaluate living conditions of the applicants have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the members of the committee, their work has now resumed with the current ease of restrictions under the new normal conditions.
Of the 6,720 flats developed by the former government, 140 have been allocated for individuals who received housing units from Gulhifalhu but decided to relocate. An additional 160 flats have been allocated for individuals who could not relocate to the flats in Male' City after they received the housing units.
The remaining 6,420 flats will be handed over to recipients from the 12 categories. The categories include 1,000 flats for civil service staff, 300 flats for personnel from Maldives Police Service, 300 flats for personnel from Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), 1,000 flats for youth between ages 18 to 40. In addition, 1,000 were allocated for residents of Male' City, 1,044 flats for individual who had registered for housing from Male' City. 475 flats for doctors and nurses, 625 flats for teachers and 500 flats for single parents.
The committee formulated by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is now evaluating the most deserved people to receive flats after evaluating the forms and inspecting the living conditions. The committee explained the work is challenging with many incomplete forms while some applications lack required information and documents.
The committee has now finished evaluating forms submitted under 6 categories and plans to finalise the evaluation and list of recipients by the end of July.