Rasmalé to be audited, Auditor General urges revenue-generating use of reclaimed land

Auditor General Hussain Niyazy has said the Rasmalé project will be audited in line with the practice of scrutinising state-funded projects, while stressing the importance of incorporating revenue-generating activities into land reclamation developments.edition

Speaking at Parliament’s Budget Committee on Tuesday, during its review of the proposed 2027 budget, Niyazy said commercial components were essential to making reclamation projects financially viable.

Without them, he warned, reclaimed land could remain underutilised.

Citing data compiled by his office, Niyazy said approximately 70 reclamation projects had been carried out over the past three decades, excluding Rasmalé.

These projects had added around 2,500 hectares of land at a total cost of approximately MVR 19 billion.edition

He said much of the reclaimed land remained unused for housing or industrial purposes because essential infrastructure, including electricity and water services, had not been provided.

He put the commercial value of the unused land at approximately MVR 15 billion.

Niyazy stressed that state-owned land should be developed and utilised in ways that generate income for the government and deliver a return on public investment.

The remarks come as the government pursues real estate development in Rasmalé, which is intended to generate an ongoing stream of revenue.

The planned audit would subject the project to scrutiny in the same way as other state-funded developments.