Environmental impact assessment for the harbour rehabilitation project, Maaungoodhoo Island, Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt Ltd at the request if Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure for the proposed harbour rehabilitation project at Maaungoodhoo, Shaviyani Atoll. The project involves the rehabilitation of the existing harbour in Maaungoodhoo, Shaviyani Atoll. This project is initiated by the government of Maldives. The harbour of Maaungoodhoo has been damaged to various extents and requires rehabilitation and upgrading, including deepening the harbour basin, extending beaching area, constructing east channel breakwater, constructing quay wall on the extended area and reconstructing harbour breakwater using the existing rock boulders. In addition to this, filling the eroding area on north side of the island and filling the area on the west side of the harbour using dredged material is also proposed in this project. A detail assessment of the environmental and social conditions was assessed based on which a rehabilitation project has been proposed. This EIA has been prepared to assess the social and environmental impacts of this proposed rehabilitation project. The major impacts have been identified as resulting from the dredging works, which has been proposed inside the harbour basin and west of the existing harbour basin. However, as this is a rehabilitation project, environmental impacts from the dredging works will be minor to moderate as it is done on an already dredged area. To support this, the report has identified baseline conditions of the predicted impact zones of the marine environment and they appear to be limited as the reef itself has limited live coral coverage on the proposed site. Dredged spoil has been proposed to be disposed to the northern side of the island. Therefore sedimentation during the filling process is anticipated which will impact nearby reef areas. The impacts on coastal dynamics also seem to be limited as there will not be any layout changes to the harbour that will significantly affect the sediment movement around the island. The harbour has already disrupted the sediment movement around the island, which is seen during both seasons. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation control methods and other measures. These mitigation measures will have to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. Stakeholder consultations were held with various groups, including the community and the client in order to incorporate the socio-economic components in the project. It is inevitable that there would be some negative environmental impacts, especially when dredging is undertaken. In Maaungoodhoo, the environmental impacts are limited and not significant as this is a rehabilitation project. Most of the negative impacts will be confined during the construction stage. As a result, a comprehensive monitoring component has been suggested which takes in to consideration, the most important elements that require regular checks both during and after construction. This monitoring component will assess long term changes, despite the limited nature of the impact. The most important consideration is the socioeconomic impacts that have been assessed mainly as positive in nature. Not only they are positive, but most importantly in the long term. In this project, there are more positive benefits than negative