| Abstract: | BACKGROUND
This document presents the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for
Development of Hospitality Training Institute, City Hotel and resort development at L.
Gasfinolhu and Bodufinolhu. Developments of this nature are required to carry out EIA
studies under the Environmental Act of Maldives. The developer is required to obtain approval of Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Ministry of Housing and Environment (MHE), Maldives prior to the implementation of any development activities on the islands.
PROJECT DETAIL
The project involves the construction of a city hotel and hospitality training institute on L.
Gan, as well as the development of Gasfinolhu and Bodufinolhu as resorts. The north western corner of L. Gan (Thun’di village) will house both the City hotel (with an allocated area of 29,056 sqm), which will be developed with a bed capacity of 150 beds and the Hospitality Training Institute (with an allocated plot area of 37,496.80 sqm). Both Bodufinolhu and Gasfinolhu will be developed as 5 star resorts with total bed capacity of 350 beds. Total bed capacity of the whole project is 500 beds. The entrance clearance and basin deepening works will be carried out using excavator and where depth exceeds 1.5m; a barge will be used to carry the excavator. No hard structures are proposed for entrance protection (if hard structure is deemed necessary based on the findings of the operation stage, a separate EIA or addendum to the EIA will be prepared for construction of protection measures). The basin dredged at the City Hotel arrival jetty area will be used for harboring the vessels used by the three facilities. This dredged material would be transported to the City Hotel Plot, Bodufinolhu and Gasfinolhu. The filtered dredged material would be used for beach nourishment for projects islands (City Hotel area, Gasfinolhu and Bodufinolhu). Beach nourishment works will be carried out at Gan City Hotel beach, and at Gasfinolhu and Bodufinolhu. The existing beach will be widened to 10m (from vegetation edge to low tide line) using the filtered dredged material removed from entrance and basin dredging works. Coastal protection measures are not included as part of this EIA report since these components are not yet finalized. A separate document will be submitted for this component.
KEY IMPACTS, MITIGATION MEASURES AND ALTERNATIVES
Impacts on the environment from various activities of the development works (constructional impacts) and operation of the resort and institute (operational impacts) have been identified through interviews with the project management team, field data collection surveys and based on past experience in similar development projects. Possible impacts arising from the resort development and operation works are categorized in to reversible and permanent (irreversible) impacts. The impacts identified are also described according to their location, Extent (magnitude) and characteristics. Reversible and irreversible impacts are further categorized in to intensity of impacts (negligible, minor, moderate and major) for identifying best possible remedial (mitigation measures) action to be taken.
KEY IMPACTS
In any development project major direct impacts to the environment (either short term or long term) occur mainly during the construction phase. Potential direct or indirect impacts on the environment (on land and reef system) from the proposed works are by:
Construction debris blown away by wind or spillage during transportation on to the reef or lagoon.
Potential changes to the long shore transport and littoral regime of the island due to the coastal developments (over water structures and dredging at entrance clearance and basin excavation area).
Possible impacts from excessive sedimentation on the reef by dredging works at the entrance channels and basins, as these may alter the local hydrodynamic regime within the system resulting in siltation and increased water turbidity.
Possible impacts from excessive sedimentation on the reef by beach nourishment and coastal modification works, as these may alter the local hydrodynamic regime within the system resulting in siltation and increased water turbidity.
Direct loss of habitat and disturbance to the lagoon bottom and reef flat area by dredging and pilling works at the water bungalow construction areas (footing clearance).
Loss of vegetation due to clearing vegetation for creating space for new constructions.
Ground water contamination by digging trenches or dewatering for placing foundations of building and possible spillage of fuel or other hazardous chemicals
MITIGATION MEASURES
Mitigation measures are discussed for the construction and operational stage of the project. During the construction stage it is important to take measures to minimize generation of construction waste; impacts due to disposal of construction waste may have significant impacts on the degradation of terrestrial habitat or groundwater quality or reef health. Method of construction also has to be taken in to account to minimize impact. A construction method that has the least impact on terrestrial or marine environment has to be utilized. Waste generated during the construction phase will be sorted and as much as possible reused (construction debris for construction works as filling, timber for form work). All burnable items will be burnt, the rest sorted and sent to the local disposal site or Thilafushi. Waste disposal at Thilafushi will be costly due to long distance transportation required. Project management staff will be appointed for monitoring waste generation and management of the contractors working on the island. All waste generated will be collected and sorted and then sent to waste management building at the end of each working day. All burnable waste (timber flakes, sawdust, paper, and packing material) will be incinerated. As much as possible reusable items such as gunny bags, sawdust (for making compost) will be reused. Food waste generated at the temporary accommodation and kitchen area will be collected in waste collection bins. Separate bins will be placed for collection of metal tins/glass bottles and plastics. All burnable items will be incinerated; glass bottles crushed, metal tins compacted and sent to local disposal site or disposed of at deep sea.
During the construction stage green waste will be generated from the vegetation clearance works, and where possible, large mature trees removed will be replanted elsewhere. Daily cleaning works will also generate green waste; these would be used for making compost at the nursery. Only the sites of building and footpaths will be cleared for construction purposes and removal of scrubs will be limited to the minimum extent required. As much as possible the footpaths clearance will avoid large mature trees, and if such a tree is in line with the path, path will be adjusted or made around the tree. Silt screen installed around the periphery of the basin and entrance channels up to 4m depth mark. Silt screen with floating system used to limit the spread of sediment plume at the bases and entrances deepening area.
ALTERNATIVES
Considering the alternatives for the project in terms of location, type of economic activity to be carried out has been decided by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. The concept plan includes a separate access to each island which is need due to distance of each island to Gan. Alternative locations of entrance channels are not possible since only the western side can be used. The location of entrance channel is decided based on the location of arrival jetty.
Apart from the type of economic activity and location other aspects that can have alternative are;
Construction method of over water structures
Location of over water structures
Sewage treatment method
Feed water acquiring method, outfall and brine discharge pipes
Method of dredging |
