Fahi Dhriulhun Corporation (FDC) Managing Director, Hamdhan Shakeel has stated that people will be able to move into the flats next month, although another USD 30 million is needed to complete the second phase of the construction under the "gedhoruveriyaa" scheme.

While debating on the budget proposed for next year at Monday’s parliamentary sitting, Deputy Speaker, Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim said the flats under the scheme have not been budgeted or contracted for essential utilities such as electrical and piping.

As an example, he said an additional USD 30 million is needed to complete the 4,000 housing units being developed by FDC; a project initiated during the former administration. According to Nazim, this is because the project had not been contracted in a manner that allowed its completion.

Nazim detailed that 2,000 of the 4,000 flats were built with 85 percent funding from India’s EXIM Bank. He stressed that the Maldivian government, which is to cover the remaining 15 percent, has yet to disburse the funds.

When asked about it, Hamdhan told One Online that the water and electricity works of the flats will be completed on schedule and no additional money will be required. STELCO started connecting electricity to some of the completed flats last week, he said.

He further said the USD 30 million mentioned by Nazim would go towards external purposes. One of the biggest expenditures will be on waste management facilities, he said.

"External things are needed mostly and then some internal things are needed. For example, garbage disposal. Initially you will have to carry your own waste bags downstairs," Hamdahn said.

Hamdhan said people will be able to move into the flats next month.

After giving various dates for the release of the list of flat recipients, the government postponed the announcement of the list indefinitely on the 16th of this month.

The 4,000 units being developed by FDC in Hulhumale’ Phase II are the first of housing units being built under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme, a social housing project launched by the former administration.

The list of recipients of the flats, which was released during the last days of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, was the subject of an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The corruption watchdog ordered for the suspension of the issuance of flats, before finally giving the Housing Ministry the go-ahead to proceed in February.

Housing Ministry has provided different dates to publish the list, yet failed to deliver every time. In this regard, the Ministry last said the list would be publicized by the end of last week but released a statement saying it needs more time to finish re-evaluating all the application forms.

Subsequently, members of the public entered the Housing Ministry building yesterday in protest, expressing their dissatisfaction over the delays.