Environmental impact assessment : proposed Extension in East cost of Male’

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. This EIA report covers extension of Male’ East Coast redevelopment proposed by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. An Environmental Impact Assessment is necessary for the project as the coastal modification works fall under the ‘Jadhuvalu R’ of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 of the Maldives. The project is located in the capital city of Male’. The east coastline of the island will be utilized for the development. Area adjacent to the Alimas Carnival site will be used as a temporary construction site. The proposed east coast extension project for Male’ includes the construction of a rock boulder breakwater on north eastern side of the Male’. The rock boulder breakwater would be build outside the existing seawall. The project has been proposed to address the current flooding issues caused due to overtopping of the existing seawall. The seawall also produce an extensive amount of sea salt in the area due to sea salt spray. Coastal protection would be build using rock boulders. The EIA was undertaken to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed extension of Male’ East Coast project. Based on the assessment, it has been identified that the major impacts of the project will be felt on the marine environment during the construction stage. During mobilisation, the rock boulders for the breakwater would be unloaded to the site from north eastern side. A temporary sand bund would be created for the barge to dock and unload its rocks using excavators. The breakwater construction would be carried out by first construction of a temporary sand bund as a working platform for the excavators to work on the construction of the breakwater. These activities is expected to cause significant impact on the marine environment. Since 2002, Concerns were raised around stability of reef slope around Male’ following collapse of a section of Male’ reef in 2002 on the NE corner of the island, in front of the present Hulhumale’Ferry Terminal. The cause of the failure was largely attributed to a solid jetty build from concrete in the affected area. Due to this failure numbers of new cracks are developed in the various parts of the reef flat and the reef slope. Some of these cracks extend 20-30 m into the slope. The proposed project includes construction of a rock boulder breakwater which would increase the dead loading onto the reef flat and increase the stress on the reef slope of Male’. The mitigation measures are provided in the report with alternatives. It is vital to conduct the activities, during both project planning and construction phase, in line with mitigation measures emphasized in the report. Socio-economic impacts of the proposed project will be reducing the flooding on area due to high waves overtopping the coastal protection structures. The project would also help to reduction of salt sprays and hence improve the durability of structures and equipment from corrosion. Alternatives have been proposed for the proposed breakwater as part of the Male’ east coast extension project. Given the limited knowledge on reef slope stability in the area and past known reef slope failures at the site and around Male‟ related heavy loading on reef, a cautious approach should be adapted. Therefore it is recommended not to construct the temporary bed onto the reef top but to use geo bags and to to take all practical measures to during construction to avoid reef slope failure. Towards the end of the report, a monitoring programme has been suggested which covers components of coastal and marine environment. It is important to follow this monitoring programme not only to comply with the regulation but also to ensure that the impacts are measures in realistic terms.