Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/3077
Title: EIA report for restoration of HA. Ihavandhoo harbour under construction of harbours for tsunami victims project
Authors: Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment
Keywords: Environment protection and preservation act of Maldives
Environmental impacts
Construction impacts
Operational impacts
Issue Date: 1-Jul-2010
Citation: Ministry of Housing, Transport and environment. (2010). EIA report for restoration of HA. Ihavandhoo harbour under construction of harbours for tsunami victims project. Male': Maldives
Abstract: This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is to fulfill the regulatory requirements under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives prior to the proposed harbor restoration at Ihavandhoo in Ha Atoll. Ihavandhoo harbor restoration project is part of the Construction of Harbors for Tsunami Victims Project. This restoration project involves repair of harbors at 10 islands. The project is funded by a joint loan taken from Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Saudi Government and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) by the government of Maldives. The design consultancy was awarded to Alhabshi Consultants Office, a Kuwaiti Company in association with Riyan Pvt Ltd (a Maldivian company). The Agreement for consultancy was signed on 6th November 2008 between the Government of Maldives and Alhabshi Consultant. Project proponent of the proposed harbor restoration project is Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment. The project was bided as a design and consultancy project. The main design consulting company Alhabhsi Consultants is assigned to carry out the design works, preparing tender documents, carrying out EIAs and construction phase supervision consultant. The proposed development project involves renovation and restoration of Ihavandhoo harbor. During the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Ihavandhoo harbor facility received extensive damages. These include damage to harbor protection walls, side walls and quay walls. Under the proposed project, new quay wall (concrete sheet piles, L section) and breakwaters (armor rocks) will be constructed at the existing foot prints. The harbor basin will also undergo maintenance dredging to -3MSL. Since the proposed project is only a restoration project, basin size will not be increased. The concept plan is formulated in light of the new third generation harbor concept which is focused at functionality of the harbor. In this regard harbor usage components such as passenger embarking/disembarking, loading unloading area, fish landing, water and fuel recharging and mooring area will be demarcated. Ihavandhoo is located south Ihavandhippolhu atoll, 195miles from Male’. It is about 20km from Dhidhoo which is the capital of Haa Alifu Atoll. In terms of geographic coordinates, it is located at 06° 57' 10" N and 72° 35' 10" E. The uninhabited islands of Huvahandhoo and Ugulifinolhu are the closest islands to Ihavandhoo located at the north western side. The existing harbor facility is located at the southern side of the island, almost perpendicular to Huvahandhoo kandhu. The project boundaries are the harbor front area, either side breakwaters, southern side seawall and entrance area. Under the proposed project maintenance dredging will be done at the basin and entrance area where necessary and this activity will generate sediment plumes east and north eastwards. Dredged material removed during the maintenance dredging works will be disposed at the western side of the island where a bay shape area is observed (surplus after reuse during reconstruction work). The existing harbor footprint will not be changed due to the proposed project, breakwaters and quay wall will be constructed at existing foot print area (apart from small section of breakwater at the western side of the harbor). Therefore the existing design of the harbor will remain as it is. The length of the harbor after completion of renovation works will be 299m and width 76.6m. The length of entrance channel is approximately 50m, while width is 40m. The harbor basin will have a depth of -3MSL after completion of the restoration works. The harbor will have a total length of 303m of breakwater and 65m of rubble mound breakwater. The rubble mound breakwater will be constructed of demolished material from existing breakwaters while the main breakwaters will be of armor stones. A small section of existing revetment wall will be retained at the eastern side of the harbor which is in good condition. The quay wall length is 434m (inclusive of side quays). Dredge material removed from the harbor basin (maintenance dredging works) will be initially stockpiled near harbor area since part of the material will be required during construction works. Part of the sediment will be used for back filling the area in between the existing quay wall and new quay wall and for filling the geo textile bags of breakwaters and side quays. Part of the sediment will also be used to level the harbor front area where a large scour pit is observed. Approximately 6000m3 of sediment will be used of the construction work while rest will be disposed at the erosion prone areas at the western side of the island. The sediment will be transported to the disposal sites on trucks, although initially sediment will be stockpiled near harbor area for construction purposes. Approximately 31,000m3 of dredge material will be removed from the harbor basin and entrance channel. Part of the material will be disposed either side of the harbor (reclaimed area during the initial harbor development works), where the land has been lost due to erosion, especially at the western side of the harbor. Approximately 3,000m3 of material will be disposed at this area. The remaining 21,000m3 will be disposed at the western bay shape area. Existing environment was examined to identify significant environmental components that would be affected and to establish a baseline condition of the site. Available and relevant literature on environmental impacts associated with similar projects was evaluated to identify possible impacts. Oceanographic data and information on local hydrodynamics were qualitatively assessed to determine the current pattern around the island which was based on monsoonal wind patterns, wind generated waves, tidal flushing, geographic setting, the topography of the lagoon and shape of the shoreline. The harbor front area surveyed during the field visit had live coral cover less than 10%, while the survey area at the western side reef, near location of dredged material disposal also had live coral cover below 10%. The near shore area of dredged material disposal site is composed of sea grass. Single species Thalassia hemprichii was observed at the area. It is important to note that the most significant impact associated with the project would be impact on the marine environment from sedimentation. Dredging and excavation often carry a heavy load of sediments increasing sediment load in the water column causing discoloration due to suspended sediments of the impact area for a prolonged period. Since the project is a restoration project, the extent of sediment plum will be limited. The existing damaged breakwaters will act as bunds therefore limiting the spread of sediment fines. Since the proposed project is restoration project, environmental impacts associated with the proposed project are considered minor to moderate. The significant environmental components that are likely to be affected are the coral community established on the reef flat and changes due to maintenance dredging works. Mitigation measures are provided in the report for impacts that were categorized minor to moderate. Impact mitigation measures and monitoring is carried out to compare predicted and actual impacts occurring from project activities to determine the efficiency of the mitigation measures. It has to be noted that environmental monitoring has not been done since the completion of harbor, and extent of changes to habitat, live coral cover and shoreline is not known. Even though the project is not envisaged to cause impacts of shoreline (since construction will be done at existing footprint), it is important to monitor shoreline changes. The IDC and harbor committee stated that the size of harbor has to be increased due to increase of vessels and size of vessels. Since the project is a restoration project funded by a loan the scope of work is limited. Although the community stressed the issue of harbor expansion the community was in consent to the proposed project. The existing harbor facility was badly damaged during the 2004 tsunami and is in urgent need of repairs. With due consideration to main environmental components identified and the magnitude of impacts on these components from the proposed developments, the consultant concludes that the project components and designs are feasible and appropriate mitigation measures are given to correct and minimize unfavorable environmental consequences. Furthermore, the public and community consultation responses were in favor of the project due to the socio-economic benefits foreseen to the community from a functional harbor.
URI: http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/3077
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