Addendum to environmental impact assessment soft coastal measure at western shoreline of Thinadhoo, Gdh Atoll

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of an environmental study undertaken as an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment carried out for the project to undertake soft coastal measure at western shoreline of Thinadhoo, GDh Atoll. This environmental study has been undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. for the changes that had been brought to the scope of the soft coastal protection project at GDh. Thinadhoo. This Addendum to the EIA shall only be used for the purpose of issuing the Environmental Permit under the EIA Regulation 2012 and Environment Law 4/93. The demonstration coastal protection project is proposed by Ministry of Environment and Energy and Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) is the contractor for the project. Demonstration of soft coastal measure at western shoreline of GDh. Thinadhoo, is being implemented through Integrating Climate Change Risks into Resilient Island Planning (ICCRRIP) in the Maldives project. This is the first climate adaptation project implemented in the Maldives. The demonstration coastal protection project at western shoreline of GDh. Thinadhoo using soft coastal measure involves nourishment of 1,065m reclaimed shoreline on western side of the island and protection of the shoreline through the construction of an artificial ridge and geo-bag revetment. The project also involves the creation of a vegetated drainage system adjacent to the elevated ridge, which will allow drainage of flood water due to waves and rain. The details of the project has been provided in the Environmental Impact Assessment carried out for the project to undertake soft coastal measure at western shoreline of Thinadhoo, GDh Atoll (2014) which had been approved by EPA. The Ministry of Environment and Energy is proposing to change the location of the borrow area of to excavate 30,000 m3 of sand required for filling of the geo bags and back filling of the area to create a vegetated ridge. The contractor was unable to excavate sand from the approved two borrow areas located on north and southern side of the island. This EIA Addendum report has identified that the major impacts of the borrowing sand from the new borrow site will be felt on the marine environment of the island. Impacts on the marine environment will be felt through sedimentation and siltation caused by excavation activity in the lagoon and the associated indirect impacts on the coral reef, during this period. Baseline data has been collected and report in the EIA report. Impact on the marine environment associated with the borrowing sand from new borrow site will be identified through the monitoring. This will be reported in follow up environmental monitoring reports. The most significant impact will be felt on the lagoon bottom and adjacent coral reef on eastern side of the island. Alternatives to the project have also been considered. An alternative would be to use a mini dredger to dredge the required amount of sand from the approved borrow site located on northern side of the island. But this option would not be practical as it would be possible to mobilise a mini dredger to dredge 30,000 m3 of sand. Dredgers are feasible if the volume of sand is above 150,000 m3. Towards, the end of the report, a monitoring programme has been suggested which mainly covers the marine environment. These include coral cover and marine water quality among many other parameters.