Environmental impact assessment for the rehabilitation and repair of the harbour, Kumundhoo Island, Haa Dhaal Atoll, Maldives

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. upon request from Ministry of Housing. The project involves rehabilitation of the existing harbour in Kumundhoo Island in, Haa Dhaal Atoll with modifications to the existing infrastructures. This project is initiated by the government of Maldives as part of harbour rehabilitation programme. The present harbour of Kumundhoo has not been constructed in the best manner resulting in operational difficulties and issues. The harbour has been constructed in 2009 to ease the access difficulties faced by the island for years. Unfortunately, the height of the breakwaters is not adequate to stop wave overtopping. The height of the quay walls and the breakwater is about a meter lower than the existing island. During the harbour construction, the adjacent area between the island and the harbour has been reclaimed about 1 meters below the existing island level. Furthermore, the entrance channel is not adequately protected from waves due to the short breakwater protection. These design issues create conditions insides the harbour that makes it very difficult to fully utilize the harbour. The proposed rehabilitation is therefore geared towards rehabilitating the breakwaters and extending the breakwaters on the edge of the entrance channel. A detail environmental and social condition was assessed based on which recommendations have been proposed. This EIA has been prepared to assess the social and environmental impacts of this proposed rehabilitation project. Major environmental impacts of the project have been identified as resulting mainly reconstruction of the breakwater. As the harbour has been completed few years ago, the surrounding marine environment has not fully recovered and it’s in a stage of growth. In view of the assessment, the environmental damages to marine resources have not been considered major due to the limited boundary of the project and also due to confined nature of the project. The impacts are likely to be felt on an estimated 2% of the reef along the entire reef system. These environmental impacts were assessed for both construction and operation phase of the project. Stakeholder consultations were held with various groups, including the island council and the client in order to incorporate the socio-economic components in the project. Stakeholders, most importantly the island community represented by the Island council was the most significant as they have the maximum knowledge and experience from the daily difficulties faced. Apart from this, they receive complains from boat owners and other harbour users on a daily basis and these have been It is inevitable that there would be some negative environmental impacts, especially when the breakwater is reconstructed. During the breakwater construction stage, all the corals in this area will be entirely destroyed and killed. However, these negative impacts out weight the socioeconomic benefits gained by rehabilitating the harbour. As a result, a comprehensive monitoring component has been suggested which takes in to consideration, the most important elements that require regular checks. This monitoring component will be adhered and will allow the assessment of long term changes, despite the limited nature of the impact. The most important consideration is the socioeconomic impacts that have been assessed mainly as positive in nature. Not only they are positive, but the impacts will be felt in the long term. The rehabilitation of the harbour in Kumundhoo does not pose a major threat to the environment. The key component in this project is increasing the height of the breakwaters. It takes place in an environment that has been already damaged significantly, but is undergoing recovery. Therefore, environmental impacts are not going to be of serious concern. However, the social impacts of this project will be significant and will benefit the community as well as other harbour users from the region. Therefore, it is clearly justifiable to undertake this project.