Environmental impact assessment for: Hdh. Neykurendhoo channel protection and maintenance dredging project

Abstract

a) This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was prepared by Maldives Energy and Environmental Company (MEECO) upon request by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure (MHI), the project proponent to fulfil the legal requirements of the Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Law no: 4/93) for the project entitled “HDh. Neykurendhoo channel protection and maintenance dredging”. b) The assessment was prepared addressing the key issues highlighted in the Terms of Reference (TOR) agreed between the proponent and EPA. c) Neykurendhoo is an average sized island with a population of a little over 700, where basic services are available. The island has got an average sized harbour constructed in 2007 that is currently being used by boats owned locally as well as fishing and cargo vessels from other islands as a berthing location. d) MHI proposed this project to address the requirement for providing safe access to Neykurendhoo. No maintenance dredging had been carried out since the construction of the harbour in 2007. The channel is reported to have become shallower over the years as a result of siltation in the area. In addition the breakwater at the entrance of the harbour was constructed too short to provide adequate protection from wind and waves. e) The project is in line with government policies and legislation, and the proponent is committed to obtaining all the necessary permits and approvals prior to the commencement of the project. f) The project proposes to construct a 116.2 m rock boulder extension to the existing breakwater at the entrance channel, and apply excavation techniques to conduct maintenance dredging. The dredge material is proposed to be used for levelling the access road from the residential areas of the island to the harbour. The proponent commits to put in place all the measures necessary to minimise the impacts of the development on the environment. g) Assessment of the existing environment revealed that there were relatively few benthic communities to be directly affected as a result of the proposed activities. The channel has a sandy bottom characteristic of dredged locations. The only activity expected to cause damage to the benthic communities were the placement of the rock boulder extension to the breakwater. However, the coral communities in the area were in relatively sparse abundance and consisted only of small colonies. The impact on coral reefs is expected to revert back to its original state once the environment has stabilised upon completion of the project. h) The major impact to the surrounding areas would be from sedimentation during dredging, especially since for much of the year the location will experience winds and the resulting wind-generated surface currents away from the island. Adequate silt netting would minimise the impacts to the surrounding areas during construction phase. i) The proponent is fully committed to fulfilling the requirements of the monitoring plan developed, and undertake any mitigation measures necessary to minimise the negative impacts of this project j) The benefits of this project outweigh the slight negative impacts caused by the project, and is encouraged to implement the project giving due considerations to the environmental issues.