While the government has decided to reclaim land in Male’ atoll Fushi Dhiggaru and give it to citizens, that land has already been leased for tourism development.

The housing ministry stated that 800 hectares will be reclaimed in Fushi Dhiggaru and anyone who applies for the land will receive 1,000 square feet.

The reclamation project is set to house a population of 300,000.

However, the government had earlier designated the area as a tourist zone for development, resulting in the Anti-Corruption Commission investigating the matter and requesting the government and the Singaporean company to register a joint venture under their agreement.

Also, the government of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed had agreed to lease the Fushi Dhiggaru land for 50 years to Prime Capital Maldives, owned by a New Zealand businessman. At the time, now jailed former vice president Ahmed Adeeb was the tourism minister.

At the time, the Anti-Corruption Commission stated that a letter from the finance ministry shows that the decision to lease the land was made by the national planning council and at the cabinet meeting in November 2011.