The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure has announced it is working closely with the Attorney General’s Office to resolve legal inconsistencies between land allocation agreements signed under the previous administration and the Maldives Land Act.

In a statement released on July 9, the Ministry said the previous government had signed agreements to allocate land from Hulhumalé, Gulhifalhu, and Giravaru lagoons under the Gedhoruveriya Scheme. These agreements included the registration and official handover of plots to recipients. However, subsequent changes to the land use plan led to alterations in plot sizes, raising legal and procedural concerns.

Upon review, the Ministry found that several provisions of these agreements conflicted with Section 11(a) of the Maldives Land Act. The law states that an individual may only be granted a residence whether a private plot, a flat in a government-constructed building, or a unit within a subdivided  plot through conditional or voluntary release of an existing residence.

The Ministry noted that, under the Gedhoruveriya Scheme, only individuals who previously held less than 600 square feet of land in the Greater Malé Region (Malé, Hulhumalé, and Vilimalé) qualified to receive new land. Despite this, plots had been issued and registered in violation of the legal framework, and many recipients have already begun construction.

To address this, the Ministry announced it will amend existing agreements signed with beneficiaries on May 30, 2025, to include updated information such as the registration number, plot number, and location of the new plots. This is aimed at legally recognising current plot allocations and facilitating continued development.

The Ministry stated that the issue's complexity goes beyond what can be addressed through simple amendments to individual agreements. It is therefore collaborating with the Attorney General’s Office to develop a comprehensive legal solution that aligns with national legislation while safeguarding the entitlements of those who have received land.