What do you call a project which is tossed up as a very plump & has potential but is just creating busywork for some people's existence. The potential project will eventually end up losing its fizz. Serious people will work on it because of inept management's push not recognizing for what it is or merely turning blind eye and eventually it will never actually realize (as in some sort of whitewash).
Just as we say empty talks as talks which has not actual value, what would you call a project which is inherently empty (not going to materialize or does not have real value) and is just a cover up to keep some official's position intact or their attempt to take temporary credit for doing some serious work while it is in its conception.
Example: "New construction and rendering services of 3 Restaurant boats" at Crescent Marina was merely a ________ project or "New construction and rendering services of 3 Restaurant boats" at Crescent Marina was merely is a ___________
work that is created to show one's relevance (or justify one's salary).