Environmental impact assessment : the ring road development project at Fuvahmulah City

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of a environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Maldives Road Development Cooperation for Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. This EIA report covers ring road development project at Fuvahmulah City. This project would undertake total length of the roads that would be 2.9 km. Fuvahmulah City is one of the islands in a group of islands that government has selected to undertake the road project implemented by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. Road Development project is implemented at islands where there is a huge demand for residential and commercial land. The proposed project would help to improve the living condition of the Fuvahmulah City and facilitate the development at the City. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the project were assessed. The road developed and associated work with the project would have significant impacts on the island of Fuvahmulah. The impacts of the project result mainly from vegetation removal which falls on the boundary of the proposed road, levelling of the ground for the road construction. The impact of the levelling would be on the natural profile of the island which might have an impact on the drainage of flood water created after a storm. This impact is considered to be medium to long term. The implementation of the project and paving the road surface would have socio-economic benefits to the Fuvahmulah City and the southern region of the Maldives. The socio-economic benefit outweighs the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Fuvahmulah City. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including removal and management of green waste, construction waste. These mitigation measures will have to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. The details of the project have been established based on the landuse plan that had been developed for Fuvahmulah City and have given consideration to the existing flooding issue at the island. Alternative designs and technologies have been investigated for the different components of the project. However, the present project design seems to be a feasible option in terms of costs, durability and safety. An environmental management plan with environmental monitoring has been developed including the most important elements that require regular checks. This monitoring component need to adhere to and would allow assessing the changes due to the road development project. Although the project involves inevitable negative environmental impacts, such impacts are predicted to be not severe as to not undertake the project in accordance with the landuse plan developed for the island. The project is justifiable in light of the socio-economic conditions and anticipated benefits resulting from the project, which seem to outweigh the negative environmental impacts.