Govt declines to disclose airport financing agreement details
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has earmarked some other major projects to be carried out on cross-subsidy basis.
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By
Ahmed Naif
Government has refused to disclose the details of the agreements signed with private companies to raise funds for the construction of six airports across the country on cross-subsidy basis or on the basis of granting an island or lagoon in exchange funding for a project.
So far, agreements have been entered into with four parties to give a lagoon or an island for raising funds for the development of the airport.
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Rank Projects and Development Private Limited (a company based in Tamil Nadu, India)
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Angiri Resorts Management and Operations Private Limited, which has links with Happy Market, a major company in the Maldives and currently operates a resort in the Maldives.
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A company linked to Sunland, a Local company that runs the resort
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With Muni enterprises, a local business
A month later, the planning ministry had sought information on the amount of funds received by individual companies under these agreements and the island or lagoon to be given:
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The agreements provide conditions on both sides not to disclose the information contained therein
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The government is of the considered view that disclosing the details of the agreements is a violation
"In view of the provision of confidentiality of these agreements signed with this Ministry, it is submitted that if information is disclosed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the government may be charged with non-disclosure of confidentiality," the letter said.
It was initially set at $5 million as the minimum amount a company would have to raise to build the airport. However, the government later reduced it to USD 3 million.
The government has identified eight locations to be given as cross-subsidy. These places are:
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1-
Sh. Kudalhaimendhoo
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2-
N. Kunnamale
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3-
N. Dekenannfaru
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4-
N. Dhigufaru Lagoon
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5-
Lh. Meyyafushi
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6-
Th. Dhiffushi
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7-
Th. Kalhufahalafushi
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8-
G.A. Fulangi
In addition to the construction of the airport, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also earmarked some other major projects to be carried out on cross-subsidy basis. Similarly, a lake and an island in Noonu atoll have been sold for $27 million for the development of K. Giraavaru lagoon, which is meant for land to the people of Male.
