Environmental impact assessment : for the proposed development of 6-storey operations building for Male' Water and Sewerage Company, Male'', Maldives

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed development of the operations building of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) Private Limited, Male’. The proponent of this project is MWSC. The proposed project covers: mobilisation, excavation and dewatering, foundation and concrete works, masonry, mechanical and electrical works, exterior and electrical work, monitoring and evaluation, interior works and demobilisation. The project is estimated to take 2 years to complete. The proposed designs and plans are also generally in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives. Additional approvals are required for the following before commencement of project activities. They include; dewatering application and approval before commencement of any dewatering activities; connections to sewer systems; water connections; power connections and approvals to use the building for housing. The project will be implemented on Nikagas Hingun. There is one construction site in the same block as the proposed site. The proposed land area is a vacant but is occupied by vehicles and stored pipes. These will need to be cleared prior to commencing the construction work. The existing environment was assessed as part of this EIA. As such, groundwater condition in the project site, noise measurements, air quality assessment around the project site and a traffic study was conducted. In addition a visual observation of the nearby buildings was carried out. Noise assessment showed that the noise level around the area beyond the recommended levels by OECD limits for residential areas and as per traffic study most number of vehicles are observed during the daytime. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with building in Male’. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be those associated with traffic and parking, dewatering and potential damage to neighbouring buildings during excavation. The contractor will pay compensations for any damage to the nearby buildings during the construction stage. Groundwater quality and soil condition may also be impacted through accidental leakage and spillage of oil and chemicals. In addition, given there is a mosque with a mortuary and government offices in close proximity of the project site. During concreting works it is anticipated that noise and air quality around the area will be negatively impacted. Given there is another construction site in the same block as the proposed site, the cumulative impacts from this project will be an issue. There will also be additional burden on waste management and utilities. The project mainly has positive socio-economic benefits as it will enhance the operations and services of MWSC and improve staff recreation. During operational stage, one of the key factors to study is the health and safety of the occupants of the building and demand on utility providers for power, water, sewerage and waste management. In addition, it is expected that demand for parking space and impact on traffic flow will be negatively impacted during the operational stage of the building as no additional parking is provided in the building. The key mitigation measures for the construction stage include use of proper shoring methods, dewatering only when required, minimising traffic disruption by limiting working hours to evenings and weekends, consulting with Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and Maldives Traffic Police regarding traffic flow and road closure and informing stakeholder prior to road closure by the proponent and a complaint and issues registry must be maintained. To mitigate the impacts to air quality, it is recommended to keep the construction area damp at all times. It is recommended to fence the site with solid panels to minimise the impact of noise to nearby buildings, businesses. It is also recommended to monitor all occupational areas to ensure noise levels do not exceed WHO standards. To avoid impacts on health and safety during operational stage, the building must be designed for fire and safety with hose reel system, dry raiser system, sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors installed. All the occupants must be trained at least once a year. Alternative options were evaluated with “No Project” alternative and for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on the project. These include options for foundation methods. The currently proposed options are preferred. Consultations were held with STELCO and Ministry of housing nearby institutions for this EIA. Multiple stakeholders recommended to mitigate dust and noise pollution. In addition, the Maldives National University and Ministry of Islamic Affairs also requested getting informed prior to road closure. Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and STELCO also advised on getting all the permits and approvals prior to the elevant construction phase. Billabong further expressed concerns on moving large vehicles and construction materials and expressed concern on the safety of students due to falling objects, air pollution, and increasing number of foreign labourers. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition, provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical environment as well as human environment. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between USD 3,000.–5,000 annually. The main conclusion of this report is to proceed with the project but after incorporating the mitigation measures proposed in this report. Safety of the adjacent buildings and occupational health and safety must be a priority. Care must also be taken to minimise the impacts on the nearby offices and businesses, work must be completed in the shortest time frame possible.