Mayor: Govt. at fault for delay in Sinamale’ flats’ redevelopment

The delay in implementation of the city council’s plan to demolish the housing projects Male’ Hiyaa and Sinamale’ and replace them with 18-floor towers in the government’s fault, states Male’ City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Muizzu told Sun on Saturday that the project was getting delayed because the government hasn’t’ approved the council’s land use plan for Male’.

The exact date on which the project will begin will become clear once the land use plan is approved, he said.

People began living at the Sinamale’ flats in July 1990. The flats, while more spacious than the flats later built under social housing projects, are now severely rundown.

Muizzu said the city council believes the redevelopment of the flats to be of crucial importance.

“It makes more sense in the long term to demolish the flats and construct new buildings. The redevelopment will offer changes for more people. We mentioned this when he submitted our land use plan,” he said.

Muizzu said he does not believe the government plans on allowing the city council to carry out its plan.

“We hope for an official written response. Then the process of detailed designing and finding investors can begin,” he said.

Muizzu said the tenants of the flats will be provided alternative housing while the project is in progress.

He said that tenant who have already completed payments will not need to pay any additional rent to reside in the new towers while the tenants who have yet to complete their payments will pay the same rent.

Muizzu said the city council receives complaints from multiple tenants regarding the state of the flats.