Environmental impact assessment : 10 storey residential development at Hulhumale’ plot no. C4-4 AIRA exceptional living

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out for the proposed 10-store building at Hulhumale’ Plot No. C4-4 on Fithuroanu Magu. This project requires EIA as the building has a basement and the foundation of the building goes below 6 feet, under EIA regulations 2012 such buildings require EIA clearance from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The main objective of the EIA is to identify potential impacts of excavation, construction of foundation and dewatering and consider mitigation measures that can be adopted. In addition, the EIA would also consider other construction phase and operational phase activities such as waste management, energy and water supply although they are not directly related to the scope of the EIA. The main aim of the project is to try and meet the increasing demand for residential options in greater Male’ region. This project is expected to reduce current population congestion in Male’ to some degree. Additionally, some floors will be used for commercial purposes such as shops. Looking at the existing environment of the site, the site is devoid of any significant flora or fauna. There is however, a belt of Beef wood, (Casaurina equisetifolia) planted on the side of the road. This vegetation belt does not fall within the site boundaries. The traffic at this road is quiet low as the area is outside the main residence area. Mainly motor bikes use this road with occasional cars and pick-ups. As such, the noise level at the site is currently quiet low. The groundwater quality was found to be relatively good at this location though slightly saline. Almost all of the negative impacts envisioned for the project occurs during construction phase and as highlighted previously most of these impacts are associated with substructure works. However, almost all these impacts are minor and can be reduced to negligible levels with the mitigation measures proposed in this report. In this regard, the potential negative impacts associated with this project can be summarised as impacts related to groundwater quality and quantity, impacts on air quality, impact on ambient noise, impacts on utility services, impacts on traffic and impacts on health and safety. Mitigation measures proposed for the project like minimizing dewatering to the shortest possible time, ensuring proper storage and transport of construction material and waste, restricting noisy activities to day time, undertaking works by experienced operators and supervisors, avoiding closure of roads during peak rush hours and implementing international best practice health and safety standards will help to reduce the influence of most of the envisioned impacts to negligible levels. The EIA report proposes a monitoring program that will help to identify the actual impacts and to identify the effectiveness of the implemented mitigation measures. In this regard monitoring, will include, monitoring of groundwater quality, monitoring of dust and noise and monitoring of traffic condition. The monitoring reports will be submitted to EPA every two months during construction phase and once thereafter to meet the requirements of the EIA regulations. The reports will be submitted in the format specified in the EIA regulations. Overall, this project has a major positive impact for the proponent in terms of socio economic value and indirectly to population of Male’. The negative impacts envisioned are only for the construction phase and all these impacts can be easily mitigated.