The audit report of Enhancing Education Development Project (EEDP) has shown an extra USD 2.45 million was spent from the state budget due to the delay in commencing the projects to enhance the educational facilities in Maldives.
Initially, only about USD 1 million was decided to be spent from the state budget on the projects to enhance the facilities funded by World Bank and the government of Maldives, according to the EEDP audit report. However, due to the delay in commencing the projects and due to damages which occurred following the delay, an extra USD 2.45 million was spent from the state budget. In this regard, the EEDP report noted opening a bank account for the project was delayed caused obstruction in beginning the project.
The initial cost for the project funded jointly by World Bank and government was USD 42.65 million, from which USD 10 million was granted from the World Bank, with the remaining USD 1 million to be spent from the government. Moreover, Audit report of EEDP noted the project initially to be commenced in 2013, began in 2016.
In the report, the Auditor General Hassan Ziyath advised the authorities to exert efforts to minimise the extra cost spent on projects.