Ministry of housing and environment initial environmental impact assessment report harbour restoration works at Hithadhoo, Addu City

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 Hithadhoo in Addu City. 2. Project proponent of the proposed harbor restoration project is Ministry of Housing and Environment. The project was bided as a design and build project. The contractor for the project is Works Corporation Limited. 3. The proposed development project involves renovation and restoration of Hithadhoo harbor. The existing harbor quay wall is badly damaged at the southern side of the harbor and is in need for repair. Under the proposed project, new quay wall (concrete sheet piles, L section) will be constructed. The harbor basin and entrance channel will also undergo maintenance dredging to -3MSL, while the harbor will be expanded at the southern side. Approximately 230m. 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. 4. The island of Hithadhoo lies at the north western side of the Addu atoll approximately 526km south of Capital city Male. Measuring 8.7 km in length and around 1.7 km in width (at maximum), the island covers an area of 551ha; the island is oriented north west to south east. The island is located at 00° 36' 25" N and 73° 05' 19" E. 5. The existing harbor facility is located at the eastern side of the island facing the deep lagoon. The site boundaries are harbor basin area. The harbor facility will undergo expansion, maintenance dredging and construction of new quay wall. 6. Overall existing harbor design and footprint area will not change apart from extension of the quay wall and basin southwards approximately 230m (part of basin already deepened, 80m length, therefore approximately 150m length of basin is required for deepening). The length of the harbor after completion of renovation works will be 533m and width 76. The existing entrance channel route will be used after restoration as access to harbor; no additional dredging is required at this area apart from few shallow spots. The shallow area near the quay wall will be dredged to -3.0MSL (the rest of the basin existing has a depth of -4.5 on average). 7. Dredge material removed from the harbor basin (maintenance dredging and expansion works) will be initially stockpiled near harbor area till required for construction works. Dredged material will be used for back filling makeshift harbor and areas at the quay wall extension area. Approximately 50,000m3 (back filling works) of sediment will be used of the construction work, and short coming of dredged material be met by dredged material removed from harbor restoration works at S. Feydhoo and harbor expansion area of Hithadhoo harbor. 8. Due to relative large distance from the harbor no detailed assessment of the reef was carried out. However, qualitative assessment of the sea grass and reef flat was carried out to get information on the general setting of these two habitats adjacent to the harbor. Hithadhoo protected Area (HPA) in approximately 400 meters from the harbor which may lead to some level of impacts from sedimentation associated with the harbor maintenance works such as quay wall reconstruction and back filling of quay wall. 9. 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 at the harbor basin area; the natural deep lagoon and manmade deep channel paths at the area will limit the spread of the sediment plume. 10. Since the proposed project is a restoration project, environmental impacts associated with the proposed project are considered minor to moderate. 11. 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. The eastern side of Hithadhoo is modified over the years, with major reclamation works and coastal modifications. In this regard harbor proximity area, has no natural shoreline but composed of reclaimed shoreline and revetment structures. 12. 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 socioeconomic benefits foreseen to the community from a functional harbor.