| 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 and infrastructure. The project involves construction of a harbour entrance channel and associated works in the island of Bilehdhoo in, Faafu Atoll. As such the project involves the following components.
• Construction of a new entrance channel
• Construction of 68m rock boulder breakwater
• Closing the existing entrance channel and undertaking maintenance dredging for 3m below Mean Sea Level (MSL).
The harbour is presently in need of upgrading in terms of a more functional entrance channel and maintenance dredging in some areas. Due to the orientation and lack of protection of the present entrance channel, it creates unfavourable conditions inside the harbour basin. The basin is extremely rough and vessel safety is a serious issue during most part of the south-west monsoon. A more pragmatic and a suitable entrance channel orientation and protection is therefore required for a better functioning harbour and to allow maximum safety for vessels.
As a result, it has been decided to fill the existing entrance channel up to -1.0 metres at Mean Sea Level (MSL) and construct a breakwater across, which will completely block the existing entrance channel. Secondly, a new entrance channel will be dredged that is oriented towards the south rather than south-west. Thirdly, a new breakwater of length 68 metres will be constructed to protect the entrance channel which is expected to protect the harbour basin and bring a sustainable solution to the ongoing difficulties faced in the harbour.
It is estimated that the filling of the existing entrance channel to -1.0 metres from Mean Sea Level (MSL) will require 3300 cubic metres (cbm). Estimated volume from the dredging of the new entrance channel is estimated to be 7700 cbm. An additional 1552 cbm will be obtained from maintenance dredging from inside the harbour. All excess dredge dredged material will be stockpiled in the island for future use.
This project is expected to ease many of the challenges faced by the islanders, especially for the vessel owners, as safe entry and exit as well as calm mooring conditions will be guaranteed inside the harbour. Presently, the design and orientation of the entrance channel of the harbour is causing lot of difficulties for end users. Despite
these advantages, there are also some concerning issues such as how the new orientation of the entrance channel would affect the ease of manoeuvrability of boats along the entrance channel. There is also the concern of harbour basin water quality resulting from stagnation of water due to excessive protection that may not facilitate the adequate water movement.
A detail environmental and social assessment was undertaken for this project and the findings are reported in this EIA. This EIA has been prepared to assess the social and environmental impacts of this project.
Although this is not a completely new development, significant negative impacts on the marine environment will be felt through permanent habited modification and direct destruction of the marine environment. Similarly, the coral reef will be directly and indirectly impacted from this project. At the same time, the socio-economic impacts of the project will be significantly felt on a very larger group, and not necessarily the islanders only. There will be significant marine environmental impacts of this project due to dredging and associated marine environment works proposed.
In such projects, environmental damage cannot be avoided and hence the goal should be to undertake the works in the least damaging manner. As the marine environment will be affected, careful implementation of mitigation measures and adopting methods which minimizes damage will be key for this project. Most of these measures are best practice guidelines and protocols that does not require a lot of financial input to implement.
In view of the assessment, the environmental damages to marine resources have been considered significant due to the nature of the project. The impacts are likely to be felt on an estimated 12% of the reef, mostly along the western side. These environmental impacts were assessed for both construction and operation phase of the project and the majority of the negative impacts will be felt during the construction stage. However significant these negative impacts are, they should be compared and assessed with the socioeconomic benefits gained through this upgrading works. As a result, a comprehensive monitoring component has been suggested which takes in to consideration, the most important elements that require regular monitoring. This monitoring component will be adhered and will allow the assessment of long term changes resulting from the project. One of the important monitoring aspects will be the socioeconomic impacts. To monitor the success of this project, socio-economic factors
such as vessel safety and harbour safety factors have been included as part of the monitoring process.
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 due to the present design of the harbour entrance channel. Apart from this, the council receives complains from boat owners and others on a daily basis with regard to the conditions prevailing in the harbour and how difficult it is to manoeuvre. During the formulation and also during the EIA preparation stage, consultations were undertaken with the Island Council to incorporate their inputs and comments.
The upgrading of the harbour infrastructure in Bilehdhoo will have significant negative environmental impacts to the island environment, most of which will be felt on the marine environment. The project takes place in an environment that has been modified or damaged during the harbour construction. However, the social impacts of this project will be significant and will benefit the community as well as to everyone who uses the harbour, be it locals or from other regions. |
