Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has issued a final notice to Jaah Investment Private Limited, stating that the agreement will be terminated after a specific period if "The Gardens" project is not completed.

Jaah Investment, a real estate company with interests in Jausa Construction, began developing "The Gardens" project in Hulhumalé in 2017. The company has been granted several extensions to complete the project.

In a statement released today, HDC said that due to Jaah Investment's failure to complete the project to date, the HDC board has decided to issue a final legal notice under the last phase of terminating the agreement signed between HDC and Jaah Investment Private Limited.

HDC stated that if the remaining work on the project is not completed within the 45-day notice period, the agreement will be terminated and the project will be taken away from the company.

HDC said this step has been taken to facilitate the handover of apartments to those who have paid for them through Jaah Investment as soon as possible.

The agreement for the middle-income housing project in Hulhumalé, awarded to Jaah Investment in 2017, initially gave two years for completion. However, more than seven years have passed without the project being completed, leading to increased complaints from those who purchased apartments through Jaah. Issues have also arisen regarding unpaid salaries and passport retention of foreign workers brought in for the project.

Jaah previously stated that the project's delay was due to difficulties in bringing workers and materials because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite HDC granting four extensions, the work remains incomplete. In June 2023, HDC gave Jaah a 30-day notice to complete the apartments and pay for the land. However, the work was not finished within this period either.

In July 2023, HDC announced that they had taken over the completion of the project as all given deadlines had passed without the work being finished.