The Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development announced today changes to the Giraavaru Land use plan, shifting plots to Gulhifalhu due to insufficiency on the former island.

The decision, disclosed in a statement by the ministry, stems from a discrepancy between the number of plots issued under the Binveriya Scheme and the available land area on Giraavaru, exacerbated by the lack of consideration for utility and basic service establishment by former administration.

With the inclusion of structures for essential facilities in Giraavaru's land use plan, the island could not accommodate the plots designated for the social housing scheme.

Consequently, the ministry opted to relocate 1,347 plots from Giraavaru to Gulhifalhu.

The revised land use plan for Gulhifalhu has been published on the ministry's website and the Hiyavahu portal.

The redistributed plots from Giraavaru to Gulhifalhu are categorized by size, with 193 plots at 1,250 square feet, 663 plots at 1,650 square feet, 487 plots at 2,050 square feet, and 4 plots at 2,450 square feet.

Recipients originally assigned plots in Giraavaru can opt to switch to Gulhifalhu through the Hiyaavahi Portal, beginning Sunday at 09:00 until April 14th at 23:00.

In the event of an excess of applicants seeking plot changes exceeding the allocation for Gulhifalhu, the ministry will conduct a draw to select recipients.

The Binveriya Social Housing Scheme, initiated by the previous government, aimed to distribute 9,003 plots to 18,955 eligible recipients across multiple phases, utilizing lands from Gulhifalhu, Giraavaru, and Hulhumale'.