Environmental impact assessment report for the proposed land reclamation (remaining components from phase II and phase III) of the Gulhifalhu Island, Kaafu Atoll, Maldives

Abstract

The main purpose of this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to evaluate the potential environmental, socio-economic and natural impacts of the remaining work from Gulhifalhu Devleopment project Phase II to III to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the proposed components of the project. The Project is being undertaken by Capital Investment and Finance Ltd (CIFL) registered in the UK. CIFL has signed a concession agreement with the owner of Gulhifalhu – Gulhifalhu Industrial Zone Limited – a state-owned company. The rationale for the project is to privately develop a qualitatively high and attractive residential and commercial area in the Maldives and lease out reclaimed land for 35 years in the effort to enhance the economic potential of the Maldives. The proposed overall project involves the reclamation of over 110 ha of land of which 29 ha have already been reclaimed over Gulhifalhu under Phase I, Phase II and Phase III of the project. However, there is still impending work from Phase II and Phase III. In the remaining work from Phase II and Phase III of the project a total area of 43.3 ha of land is to be reclaimed, dredging of approximately 1,385,600 m3 of coral sand within atoll lagoon and pumping of the materials into reclamation area. The borrow area for this activity takes place within the atoll lagoon. The project is planned to be carried out in four phases. The remaining components of Phase II and Phase III will be completed in 18 months. All project activities will be in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives, and relevant international conventions that Maldives is party to. The key laws and regulations applicable to this project are: Environmental Protection and Preservation Act and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012. Proposed project will have both negative impacts as well as positive impacts to the country in general. Sedimentation is highlighted as the major impacts to the natural environment; this is mainly due to the dredging and reclamation activities. These cause several impacts ranging from smothering of coral to permanent loss of marine habitats. Other impacts include pollution to the environment, impacts to the protected coral reef area. During the project it is also expected there will be changes in the current patterns which is experienced by similar projects in the past. As flagged out in the EIA for the Phase I, Phase II and Phase III a significant damage to the marine habitat and biota are expected. Thus adequate mitigation measures are addressed to enable less impact to Marine habitat and especially to the Marine Protected Area. The methodology adopted by the project is TSHD this ensures the project to be more environmentally sound. Several mitigation measures are also taken prior to commencement of the project and during and after the project. This ensures the project to be following EIA process. Measures with their respective costing like developing sedimentation basins, silt screen and bund walls during the reclamation process are used. Moreover, a monitoring plan is formulated which includes the construction phase and the long term (both of which will be the responsibility of the project proponent). Apart from the negative impacts, the positive impacts of this project are also being touched upon and it reveals different and important impacts which included elevating of poverty ަ also full fills the re directing the population migration from other Atolls to Male’ with availability of more lands at cheaper rate. A public consultation was carried out with inhabitants of Villigili and with project beneficiaries. The general attitude was positive and important areas of concern were lack on information on the project. In conclusion, the reclamation of Gulhifalhu with proposed coastal protection can be completed with moderate impacts on the surrounding environment in the remaining components of phase II and phase III. However, during the dredging and reclamation activities, good care should be taken to minimize the impacts of the suspended sediments as this comprises of the most severe impacts. Preventive measures will be in place to ensure minimal loss of suspended sediments. All the feasible measure will be taken to minimize the amount of coral damage by dredging. The Socio economic benefits are large in relation to the duration of dredging and reclamations works needed. This project will provide new land for warehousing, logistics and distribution and housing. And it is believed that an existing and immediate need for the land and space in the Male’ region would be fulfilled by this project