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Title: | Addendum to environmental impact assessment for the changes that had been made to the harbour rehabilitation project at Kurendhoo Island, Lavaiyani Atoll, Maldives |
Authors: | Water Solutions |
Keywords: | Applicable policies, laws and regulation Project descriptions Methodology Existing environment Status of fish abundance Stakeholder consultations Environmental impacts Mitigation measures Selection of the preferred alternatives Environmental management and monitoring |
Issue Date: | Mar-2013 |
Citation: | Water Solutions. (2013). Addendum to environmental impact assessment for the changes that had been made to the harbour rehabilitation project at Kurendhoo Island, Lavaiyani Atoll, Maldives. Male': Maldives |
Abstract: | This report discusses the findings of social and environmental impact study undertaken by
Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure for the
changes proposed to harbour rehabilitation project at Lh, Kurendhoo.
Kurendhoo with a total land area of about 19.9 hectares is located at 5º32’59’ N and
73º27’57” E. The island is inhabited island, with slightly over 72.0 persons per hectare.
Kurendhoo is in a strategic location given that it is located in the middle of all inhabited
islands of the atoll with easy access for inter- and intra-atoll travel. The closest inhabited
island is Maafilaafushi, which was chosen by the Government as a potential growth-focused
island.
The Ministry of Housing and Environment awarded the Kurendhoo harbor developed
project to Works Cooperation Limited in 2011 to develop the harbor in accordance with the
“EIA for the proposed rehabilitation of harbour in Kurendhoo, Lhaviyani Atoll, February
2011”. EPA approved the proposed harbor development project at Kurendhoo which was
outlined in the EIA report. The actual harbor development project deviated from the original
plans that were approved by EPA. EPA intervened and stopped the project in 2012. When
EPA intervened, 12,000 m2 of area was reclaimed on south of harbor from the material that
was excavated from the harbor basin. This was the material that needs to dispose to the area
that was eroding on north eastern side of the island. 166 m of the quay wall has been
completed and the dredging of the harbor basin has been completed.
The island community, island council and the MP of the island has requested the Ministry of
Housing and Infrastructure to bring some changes to the original plan that had been
approved. Hence following changes has been made to the Kurendhoo Harbour Development
project.
- Extending the quay wall to northern section of the harbor. Total quay wall would
be 300 m
- Construction of a rock boulder revetment on north eastern side of the island to
mitigate sever erosion
- Construction of a rock boulder breakwater on either side of the entrance channel
- Construction of 450 m of rock boulder breakwater to protect the harbor basin
- Construction of 276 m of coral revetment to protect the area that had been
reclaimed
- Removal of the 6,875 m2 of sand from the area that had been reclaimed on south
side of the island.
- Replenishment of 3,900 m2 of area on north eastern side of the island and 1,570
m2 on south eastern side of the island.
- Placement of marker lights on the entrance channel and the navigation light to
mark the entrance channel to the atoll.
Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the additional works for the harbour
development project were assessed. The impacts of the project result mainly from
excavation of the harbour basin of the area that had not been excavated, placement of the
breakwater, construction of the breakwaters at the entrance channel, construction of the
revetment and disposal of the excavated materials as to mitigate the erosion on north west
and south eastern side of the island. The impact of excavation would be that of sedimentation. The excavation area also falls to
the hard rock area of the reef flat and hence this would cause difficult to excavate using light
machineries. It is recommended to use heavy machineries to excavate the western sections
of the harbour basin. The project would help to address the current erosion problem by
replenishing the eroding beach with the materials borrowed from the harbour basin. The
socio-economic benefits of the project may be considered to outweigh the negative impacts
of the project on the physical environment of the island especially increasing the usable
space on north western side of the island. The proposed project conforms to prevalent
environmental legislation and thrives to achieve its objectives in a environmentally friendly
manner.
Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in
detail, including sedimentation and stagnation control methods and measures for minimizing
negative effects of construction waste. These mitigation measures need to be followed in
order to minimize environmental damage. The details of the additional component of the
project have been established after considering the needs and requirements of the
community by assessing and incorporating the outcomes from the stakeholder consultations
held during the data collection stage.
The EIA also allowed to explore the best possible alternatives for the proposed development
and identified key mitigation strategies. Alternative locations and alternative designs have
been investigated for the different components of the project. However, the present project
design seems to be a feasible option in terms of costs, durability, safety and incorporation of
the expectation of all stakeholders.
An environmental management plan with environmental monitoring plan has been
developed including important elements that require regular checks. This monitoring
component will be adhered to and will allow the assessment of changes due to construction
of the harbour.
Although the project involves negative environmental impacts, such impacts are not severe
as to not bring changes to the original harbour development project. The changes to project
is justifiable in light of the socio-economic conditions and anticipated benefits resulting
from the project, which seem to outweigh the negative environmental impacts. |
URI: | http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/4088 |
Appears in Collections: | ތިމާވެށި Environment A
|
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