| Abstract: | i) Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim, M. Pink Night (A049115) proposes to develop a 6-Storey Building with Basement Water Tank at Lot 20056, Nirolhu Magu, Hulhumale’ for both commercial and residential purpose. The total area of the plot is 188.67sqm and proposed building footprint area is 141.68sqm. It is proposed that 47sqm will be left as open space. The building height from ground level will be 18.5m. ii) Once completed, the basement area will have 64sqm water tank, the ground floor will have a guest lounge and pantry, shop and parking area, the first and second floors will have 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartment in each floor and from third to fifth floors will be 5 individual bedrooms and sixth (terrace) floor will have a studio apartment.
iii) The sites will be excavated to a depth of 3m to lay the foundations. The entire boundary will be shored with corrugated sheets supported by iron beams as a safety measure while preparing the site ready for construction. The building will rest on a raft foundation. MWSC and STELCO utility services based in Hulhumale’ will be used for all construction and operation purposes. Dewatering will be primarily done on the open areas nearby, hence, no groundwater will be lost from the proposed development. Excavated material will be transported to designated areas in Hulhumale’ Phase 2.
iv) The proposed project meeting with some of the requirement of exceeding the foundation deeper than 5ft and having a basement, hence, requires an EIA to be undertaken and approved by EPA outlining the existing environmental conditions of the project site and surrounding, key environmental concerns including likely environmental impacts that will be generated from the proposed project and measures to mitigate these environmental impacts and a monitoring programme to be undertaken during pre-construction and post-construction periods. Terms of Reference for the EIA was approved by 13 February 2018.
v) In addition to Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, EIA Regulations, the project has to comply with Dewatering Regulation, Waste Management Regulation Hulhumale’ Planning and Building Construction Regulation: Neighborhood 4 as well as comply with Maldives National Building Code recommendations.
vi) In order to understand existing environmental conditions of the proposed project area, assessments have been undertaken including ambient noise levels, traffic volume and movement, groundwater quality, soil and vegetation, physical condition of the roads.
vii) The proposed project will be undertaken in the land plot 20056 on Nirolhu Magu, Hulhumale’ Phase 2 located at 4°13'31.18"N / 73°32'50.53"E. The total area of the plot is 188.67sqm and proposed building footprint area is 141.68sqm. It is proposed that 47sqm will be left as open space. The building height from ground level will be 18.5m.
viii) The highest noise level was recorded at Site 3 located on the eastern side of the project site having 45dB and lowest noise recorded was recorded at Site 1 located on the western side having 39dB. The noise levels recorded from the project site were relatively low as there are no major vehicle movement and ongoing construction works around the project site except for the eastern side where road works are currently underway.
ix) Generally, the traffic volume was observed to be very low. This is mainly because the area currently do not have residential or commercial development for increased traffic movement. The area mostly has construction sites. However, during the operation phase of the project, the traffic volume in the area will increase drastically as there will be a number of similar development projects that may have completed construction in the area.
x) The general soil condition was typical of reclaimed lands with coarse to fine sand mixed with coral rubble and fragments were observed. The groundwater was found at a depth of 1.8m.
xi) The groundwater condition at the site is normal with no peculiar condition of parameters tested, except that some 2420 CFU/100ml of Total Coliform counts have been recorded, which does not have a serious negative groundwater condition xii) There are no vegetation found inside the project boundary and the surrounding environment. Most areas are bare land. Due to absence of vegetation and other favourable habitats no fauna were also observed from the project site and surrounding.
xiii) There are currently no buildings adjacent to the proposed plot or the immediate surrounding area.
xiv) Currently a large project on development of roads at Hulhumale Phase 2 are ongoing. Only few major roads are completed at present. Some roads by the project site are under development.
xv) Currently no population resides in Hulhumale’ Phase 2. The entire Hulhumale’ (including Phase 1 and Phase 2) is targeted for a population of over 150,000.
xvi) Unlike short-term environmental impacts from the proposed development, it has longterm beneficial social and economic impacts, which is believed to tremendously contribute to the overall socio-economic development of Hulhumale’ that can be sustained for over longer periods.
xvii) With appropriate environmental management and mitigation measures as well as conformity to all the legal and regulatory requirements as outlined in the EIA Report, the project is believed to control or minimize most of the environmental and social impacts both during construction and operation phases of the development. Important considerations with regards to mitigating environmental impacts include closing the boundary of the project area, placing safety and dust nets around the building, regularly transporting construction waste and avoiding material transport during peak traffic hours as well as designating proper time periods for construction works have been identified.
xviii) Although during construction of the project, negative environmental impacts from construction activities have been envisaged, with appropriate environmental management and mitigation measures, these impacts will be reduced to a considerable level. Also, with positive socio-economic outlook of the project and considering the overall importance of such a development in Hulhumale’ to open residential opportunity, it is concluded that the project is an important project that can be implemented for the benefit of social and economic development |
