DC Field | Value | Language |
dc.contributor.author | Water Solutions | - |
dc.date.accessioned | 2019-08-29T08:26:52Z | - |
dc.date.available | 2019-08-29T08:26:52Z | - |
dc.date.issued | 2016-10 | - |
dc.identifier.citation | Water solutions. (2016). Environmental impact assessment for undertaking sand dredging at Gulhifalhu jetty area, Gulhifalhu, Kaafu Atoll. Male': Maldives | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/4742 | - |
dc.description.abstract | This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study undertaken
by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. for Gulhifalhu Investment Ltd.
The project involves maintenance dredging of the Gulhifalhu Jetty area. The
project aims to:
Deepen the existing jetty basin
Provide safety and protection to the vessels accessing the jetty area
Increase the usable area of the jetty
Gulhifalhu is an industrial island which lease land plots for different industrial
purposes. Many private vessels travel Gulhifalhu to access their sites every day. There
is an existing jetty area in Gulhifalhu that is used by these vessels to access the island
to load and unload materials. However, now the jetty basin is very shallow due to
accumulation of sand in the basin. Some areas of the basin are less than a meter deep
making it impossible to moor vessels to jetty. This project aims to dredge this area to
provide a safe basin and larger accessible area. Approximate total of 9000 cbm of
sand will be dreged from this area. This sand will be stockpiled temporarily in
Gulhifalhu and then will be transported to Thilafushi MRDC site for later use.
Environmental impacts of this project were assessed and have been identified as
resulting from the dredging works. Dredging work will be undertaken using
excavators and sand pumps and this is particularly a method that creates lot of
sedimentation which is a big threat to the marine environment.
Mitigation measures for the negative impacts have been identified and outlined
in the report. Completing the dredging works in the shortest time frame and in low
tide hours is a significant mitigation measure to minimize the impact of sedimentation
on the marine environment. In addition, dredging should be avoided in bad weather
conditions.
The proposed mitigation measures will have to be followed in order to
minimize environmental damage. The measures proposed to minimize or mitigate
environmental impacts may be considered to be appropriate, thereby minimizing the
impact by about 90%. The main negative environmental impact of the proposed
project would be sedimentation and destruction of the lagoon and damage to some
areas of the nearby reefs, which will cause partial death of corals in other areas of the
coral reef. During dredging works, the sedimentation will also affect the fish species
in the vicinity of these areas and hence, their population will drop in areas affected by
sedimentation.
It is inevitable that there would be negative environmental impacts of this
project. As a result, a mitigation and monitoring component has been suggested which
takes into consideration, the most important elements that require monitoring, most
importantly a mechanism and means to measure and value the social benefit of the
project. This monitoring component will be adhered and will allow the assessment of
long term changes, despite the potential negative impacts.
The dredging of Gulhifalhu jetty area does pose some threats to the marine
environment of the area. There will be direct and indirect damage to marine
environment in the vicinity of the project site. However there are many positive
benefits of the project in long term. This project is justifiable in the light of the
positive impacts. | en_US |
dc.subject | Sand dredging | en_US |
dc.subject | Existing environment | en_US |
dc.subject | Existing marine environment | en_US |
dc.subject | Existing coastal environment | en_US |
dc.subject | Coral reef environment | en_US |
dc.subject | Environmental impacts | en_US |
dc.subject | Mitigation measures | en_US |
dc.subject | Environmental management and monitoring plan | en_US |
dc.subject | Environmental impact assessments | en_US |
dc.title | Environmental impact assessment for undertaking sand dredging at Gulhifalhu jetty area, Gulhifalhu, Kaafu Atoll | en_US |
dc.type | Technical Report | en_US |
Appears in Collections: | ތިމާވެށި Environment E
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