EIA report for reconstruction of berth at Thilafushi block 149C

Abstract

1. 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 restoration of alongside berth and harbor at Thilafushi block 149C. 2. Project proponent of the proposed project is Mr Ahmed Shahir, M Furahani who is the lease holder of Thilafushi block 149C. 3. The proposed project involves construction of alongside berth and reclamation of land at Block 149C, Thilafushi. The reclamation area is confined to existing harbor basin; while berth will be constructed at reef slope side and basin side. The berth at the reef slope side will be constructed using piles and tie beams thereby cantilevering to attain depths of -20m (used for berthing large vessels). 4. The location of project site is at Thilafushi block 149C, which is located at the eastern side of Thilafushi facing the channel between Thilafushi and Gulhi Falhu. The project site, reclamation area is a dredged harbor, while the berth area is damaged breakwater (which at present is submerged). A timber walk way or jetty is observed at the area which is at present used for loading and unloading material from larger vessels. 5. Pilling works will be done using modified excavator with hydraulic system. The piles will be driven using a Tommen Vibrohammer attached to the excavator. The circular 600mm piles for the berth area will be driven to 18m below ground level (outer most piles); while the inner piles and sheet piles will be driven to a depth of 9m below ground level. The sheet piles at the harbor basin area will also be driven using the vibrohammer to a depth of 9m. 15 round piles will be driven at the alongside berth area which will be used as the super structure for tie beams and quay wall. The distance between two piles will be 5m. The sheet pile line total length is 204m, the sheet pile sections will be anchored at 3m interval. 6. The reclamation works will be carried out using construction debris from resorts (construction debris generated from reconstruction of resorts) as core material and dredged spoil from basin area as top soil. The dredged spoil from dredging of basin area will be temporarily stored at existing reclaimed land at block 149C. Excavator on barge will be used for dredging the basin area. Filling works will be done after sheet pilling and piling works of berth area is completed. The existing entrance area will also undergo maintenance dredging. The dredged harbor basin and entrance will have a depth of -4MSL. 7. The length of alongside berth is 70m, the alongside berth will have fenders at 10m intervals. The berth quay area will be concrete slab caste on top of the tie beams. The design of the berth is made such the deep water access is made without the need of dredging the reef slope area. The quay wall will be cantilevered approximately to 3m, which would attain depths of 15-20m suitable for large vessels. Behind the berth, sheet pile section will run all along the periphery of the reclaimed area. 8. The reclamation works will be done after completion of excavation and pilling works, which would effectively bund the reclamation area. Construction debris from resorts will be used for fill the area as core material. Approximately 7360m3 of construction debris will be used as core material. The top soil requirement will be met by dredged spoil generated during the deepening of basin and entrance area. Approximately 4100m3 of dredged spoil will be generated during this work. This material will be stored on land temporarily until core material filling is finished. The finish level of reclamation area is 1.5MSL (which is the finish level of paving stone). 9. Status of marine environment at the project area and adjacent block area was done by visual assessment. Snorkeling survey was done at the reef flat and slope area recording the major benthic substrate cover. The reef slope at the area is very steep, with few over hangs. The reef flat area is observed with major anthropogenic impacts; these include construction waste and other debris (since these areas are reclaimed using constriction debris and similar waste). Live coral cover at the area was less than 1%, with only few encrusting forms. Reef slope area also had very few love coral (less 1%), with few laminar forms and massive colonies. Sedimentation was observed at the rock substrate possibly due to reclamation/excavation works done at other sites at Thilafushi. 10. The project involves modification of existing harbor facility at Thilafushi Block 149C. The coastline and reef area of Thilafushi has undergone major modifications over the years after establishing the island as an industrial island. At present a number of alongside berths and harbors are built at Thilafushi catering for different industrial and commercial uses. Therefore the project area is not a pristine environment. It has to be noted that major excavation/reclamation works are done at Thilafushi and adjacent reef (Gulhifalhu which has far greater environmental impacts). 11. Since the project site is already polluted by construction debris and other solid waste, it is thought that impact of mobilization and loading/unloading works will have minor impacts. Since existing basin will be used, additional impacts to reef or lagoon will be minor. 12. Thilafushi reef system especially at the inter atoll side is severely impacted due to reclamation, dredging and waste disposal works. In this regard reef area near block 149C is almost void of live coral, while the reef flat area is littered with construction debris (used for reclaiming land). Therefore it is not possible to assess and monitor changes to reef health in terms of development work at block 149C. The parameters that can be monitored are water quality (which will also need to be monitored during construction and operational stage, especially if fuel loading and unloading work will be carried out at the berth), vibration levels during piling works and visual assessment of piling area after driving each pile. 13. In conclusion, with due consideration environmental components the project is likely to effect the consultant concludes that the project components and designs are feasible and appropriate mitigation measures are given to correct and minimize unfavorable environmental consequences (considering environmental condition of project area).