Addu City Council spent MVR 1.87 million to procure 300 date palms for a city beautification project without first determining where the trees would be planted or how they would be incorporated into a wider landscaping plan, council's 2021 and 2022 audit reports by the Auditor General's Office has found.

The expenditure was financed through a MVR 10 million conditional grant provided to the council by the Government. Under the project, 300 date palm trees were purchased through a private contractor at a cost of MVR 6,264 per tree, with delivery completed within 49 days.

The audit revealed the council acquired the trees with the intention of beautifying Addu City, but proceeded with the procurement before identifying suitable locations for planting or preparing a comprehensive implementation plan. The report noted that the lack of planning later led to operational difficulties and additional costs.

The council subsequently allocated 100 trees to Maradhoo and decided to plant many of them along the area's link road. However, sections of the road were cut to facilitate planting, resulting in damage to parts of the infrastructure. The Auditor General's Office also noted that excavation work caused soil erosion in some locations, creating issues that may require further expenditure to rectify.

The report further stated that many of the trees planted in Maradhoo later had to be removed and replanted elsewhere. The Auditor General's Office concluded that the problems encountered during the project stemmed from the failure to establish a proper landscaping and implementation plan before purchasing the trees.