| 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 harbor expansion at Feeali in Faafu Atoll.
2. Project proponent of the proposed harbor restoration project is Ministry of Housing and
Environment. The construction contract for the project was awarded to Maldives
Transport and Contracting Company. LaMer Group Pvt Ltd is assigned the EIA
Consultancy.
3. Feeali is located in Faafu atoll, 113 km from Male’. Nearest inhabited island is F.
Bilehdhoo (16.9 km on the south western side). In terms of geographic coordinates, it is
located at 3° 16' 10'' N and 73° 0' 8'' E. Nearest island is F. Vilin’gilivarufinolhi, located
0.65 km north east of Feeali.
4. The proposed development project involves extension of Feeali harbor to the
northwestern side by including the existing reclaimed area and lagoon on that side. Under
the proposed project, the new section of the harbor will have a length of 61m while
width will be approximately 75 m. The total length of quay wall constructed as part of
harbor expansion is 122.6 m. Two breakwater segments, will be constructed one on each
side (northwest and southwest) of the existing breakwater, along its length, with lengths
of 112.2m and 29.68 m each. An area of 2500m2 of the existing reclaimed area will be
excavated during the expansion work. Maintenance dredging will be carried out at areas
where necessary (shallow area in existing harbor basin).
5. The existing harbor facility is located at the southwestern side of the island and is
accessed by an entrance channel south of the harbor. The project boundaries are existing
harbor area, reclaimed area northwest of the existing harbor, shoreline northwest of the
harbor up to the western corner of the island and reef at this proposed expansion and
reclamation area. The proposed project’s scope includes harbor expansion work as well
as maintenance dredging of existing harbor to increase the width of existing harbor basin
to 75 m. The sediment plume generated due to proposed dredging works is envisaged to
be directed south westwards.
6. The existing harbor will be expanded northwestwards to 61m under the proposed project
by excavating the existing reclaimed area on that side of the harbor. Breakwater
constructed of rock boulders will be located at the north western and northeastern side
of existing breakwater. The proposed project will increase the current size of the harbor
to 152m. When completed the harbor will have one entrance (existing entrance)
protected by a small sized breakwater.
7. The existing breakwaters will be joined to two new breakwater segments on the north
and south western side of the existing structure to form a total breakwater of 257m.
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Total quay wall length after completion will be 244m. The entrance channel will be
protected by a short breakwater wall on both sides at the point where the channel meets
the harbor basin. Proposed revetment on the northwestern side of the harbor will have a
length of approximately 20m while that on the southwestern side (constructed adjacent
to the breakwater on the side of the entrance channel) will have a length of
approximately 15m. Design depth of entrance and basin is -3MSL.
8. Approximately 17,500m3 of dredged material will be generated by the maintenance
dredging works. 3,000m3 of this sand will be used for backfilling works of the quay wall
while the remaining 14,500m3 of sand will be stock piled at the western side reclaimed
land, thereby avoiding the need for disposal (as requested by the community in the
stakeholder consultation meeting).
9. The proposed harbor expansion area involves incorporating the existing reclaimed area
to the northwest of the harbor. The finish design depth of the harbor basin and entrance
channel will be -3MSL (areas shallower than -3MLS will be deepened to design depth at
the burrow area).
10. 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.
11. The reef flat area in front of the harbor had relatively good live coral cover in
comparison to the other two sites surveyed (near the existing jetty and entrance channel
to existing harbor). Acroporids of digitate, branching and tabulate forms dominated the
live coral cover in this area.
12. Since the project is an expansion project, environmental impacts associated with the
proposed project are considered minor to moderate. Significant environmental
components that are likely to be affected include sea water quality and coral community
and at the harbor front area and harbor expansion area. The most significant impact
associated with the project would be impact on these habitats 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 small in scale in addition to restoration in
nature, the extent of sediment plume is expected to be small and limited to the harbor
basin and vicinity.
13. Mitigation measures have been provided for impacts associated with the project related
works that have been categorized as 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 no EIA has been carried out for the development of the harbor and no
environmental monitoring has been done since the completion of harbor, and extent of
changes to habitats such as sea grass, coral reef and shoreline is not known.
14. The project also brings about increased positive benefits such as greater space within the
harbor easing the current issue of overcrowding of berthing area due to small size of the
harbor.
15. Stakeholder consultations were carried out as part of the EIA process. All stakeholders
were in favor of the project and stated that the initial design had been discussed with
them. They also stated that the ideas they proposed towards the initial design have now
been incorporated into the current design. The main issue raised by the stakeholders was
the backspill of sediments from the proposed reclaimed area into the harbor basin
through the opening on the northwestern side. They stated that they would like to
propose the construction of a low crested wall at this opening to minimize spill of
sediments into the basin. The community also requested to stockpile the dredged
material at the western side of the harbor since coastal protection for dredged material
disposal is not included in the scope of work.
16. 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. |
