Addendum to the environmental impact assessment for the proposed coastal protection in Alidhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll, Maldives

Abstract

This is an addendum to the EIA submitted in April 2008 for the proposed coastal protection of Alidhoo resort in Haa Alif Atoll. This Addendum highlights the maintenance component to the initial project that was proposed in the EIA report. In principle, the addendum addresses maintenance component only. These include, deepening the existing mooring area and repairing part of the vertical emerged breakwater which has been damaged by bad weather. The breakwater repair will not modify the breakwater and it is intended to restore the breakwater to its original design. The proposed maintenance work will not increase the foot print on the marine environment. The proposed deepening of the existing mooring area which is located on north eastern side of the island will aim to restore the depths initially proposed for the mooring area. The mooring area has become very shallow, causing difficulty for the boats to access during low tide. The project is proposed to deepen the existing mooring area to a depth of 3 meters at low tide, only in areas where filling has taken place. Since fine sand and few coral rubble is the main benthic substrate found in the mooring area, the deepening operations with a sand pump is not expected to have a significant impact on the marine environment. Approximately 450 cubic meters of sand will be dredged from the mooring basin. The maintenance work proposed is aimed at restoring the original project to meet its original objectives and to ensure that the resort operation is not affected. Hence, this addendum highlights these issues which need to be undertaken. The proposed maintenance work appears justified from an environmental point of view as there are no additional moderate to major impacts on the environment due to the proposed works. Through this EIA addendum, the proponent proposes to undertake the maintenance work and also a permit to undertake annual deepening of the mooring area.