Flats to be issued to those who lost Hiyaa flats in govt's first housing project

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib stated last night that the citizens who were promised Hiyaa Flats during former President Abdulla Yameen's government and then were subsequently stripped of that promise from the government prior, will be receiving said flats from the current government's first housing project.

A citizen asked Muththalib on last night's Ahaa Forum via video about the Hiyaa Flats, to which the Housing Minister responded that those who were set to receive the flat previously will now have the opportunity to do so under certain conditions, and that the work for that project will begin soon.

The Hiyaa Flats of Hulhumale' Phase 2, which were built during Yameen's administration, were split into different categories, such as disabled individuals, teachers, nurses, civil service workers, police personnel and military personnel. During the closing end of Yameen's administration, the Housing Ministry had given in formal writing that apartments would be given to people among the 7,000 available flats.

However, the list was later compiled again after government changes took place, with some people from the previous list being removed.

The individual who had posed the question during the forum was a teacher who had been given in writing that they would receive a flat. They also wanted to confirm whether any progress had been made concerning the pledge President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had stated to the public regarding individuals who had been removed from the revised flat list, with the teacher being one of them.

Muththalib stated that the necessary finances are being accrued to build 10,000 flats. Among the 10,000, 4,000 Gulhifalhu housing units are also included.

Individuals who had received the formal acknowledgment that they had received a flat but were later stripped of it, will take priority, stated the Minister.

"No matter which project it is, the first housing project implemented will prioritize individuals who were given the acknowledgement but later removed from the revised list, along with individuals who currently don't have any shelter to their name, with the relevant systems established to ascertain that end," stated Muththalib.

He had stated that people were removed from that list unfairly, and stated as an example that some individuals were removed from the list claiming the houses they resided in had no cracks in the walls.

"These individuals haven't seen any form of justice for the last five years. And so a mechanism will be put into place where the individuals who had their names removed from the list and their acknowledgements cancelled will take priority in our housing project", said the Minister.