Environmental impact assessment for the proposed development of A 10- storey building at M. Niyadhutumaage, Male’ , Maldives

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to fulfil the requirements to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the proposed development of a 10-storey building M.Niyadhurumaage, Male’. The proponent of this project is Ahmed Shafiu. The development is a family venture to develop residential apartment units for all the member s of the building. The proponent also utilises the area by developing commercial space in the building. The project involves development of a 10-storey building in M.Niyadhurumaage located in Alimas Magu. A total of 12 office space units and 15 apartment units attached bathrooms will be developed in this building. A combination of two bedroom and three bedroom apartment units will be developed. It is anticipated that a maximum of 72 people will occupy in these apartment units. In addition a gym and swimming pool will be developed in the ground floor of the building. Total development footprint is 307.33 sqm and the elevation of the building will be 30.48 m. The foundation of the building has been designed to raise the height of the building to 12-stories. The building has also been designed with fire escape staircases and it has been planned to install solar panels of 10-15kWp in the roof of the building to harvest energy for electricity. The proposed project covers: mobilisation, excavation and dewatering, foundation and concrete works, mechanical and electrical works, exterior and electrical work. The project is estimated to take 24 months to complete. The first phase of the project will be the development of commercial space. The proposed designs and plans are also generally in conformance to the laws and regulations of the Maldives. Additional approvals are required for the following before commencement of project activities. They include; dewatering application and approval before commencement of any dewatering activities; connections to sewer systems; water connections; power connections and approvals to use the building for housing. The project will be implemented on Alimas Magu, a one way street from Maaveyo Magu. There are two other construction sites right next to the proposed site. The site is a vacant area with sparse vegetation including shrubs. In addition, there are some debris and other materials which will need to be cleared before commencement of project activities. The existing environment was assessed as part of this EIA. As such, groundwater condition in the project site, noise measurements, air quality assessment around the project site and a traffic study was conducted. In addition a visual observation of the nearby buildings was carried out. Noise assessment showed that the noise level around the area beyond the recommended levels by OECD limits for residential areas and as per traffic study most number of vehicles are observed during the daytime. The negative impacts from this project are typical impacts associated with building in Male’. The most significant impact from this project during construction stage would be those associated with dewatering and potential damage to neighbouring buildings during excavation. The contractor has already taken note of the two buildings that are likely to be impacted during this stage and they have planned to take necessary measures against it. Groundwater quality and soil condition may also be impacted through accidental leakage and spillage of oil and chemicals. Traffic is also expected to be significantly disrupted in the area during concreting works, as the one way road Alimas Magu and Maaveyo will need to be closed for approximately 12-15 days during foundation laying period. This will impact the traffic flow on both roads. In addition, during concreting works it is anticipated that noise and air quality around the area will be negatively impacted. Given there are two other construction sites next to the proposed site, the impacts will felt even more. Since the area is a residential area, this impact is significant. The construction activities will also be an eyesore for the nearby residents. There will also be additional burden on waste management and utilities. The project mainly has positive socioeconomic benefits, including increased direct and indirect job opportunities for local businesses. During operational stage, one of the key impacts is the health and safety of the occupants of the building and demand on utility providers for power, water, sewerage and waste management. In addition, it is expected that demand for parking space and impact on traffic flow will be negatively impacted during the operational stage of the building. Improper management of the swimming pool is also anticipated to incur negative impacts to the users of the pool during operational stage of the building. Impacts include injury, chemical or microbial infections. However under proper mitigation and management plan, these impacts can be easily avoided. The key mitigation measures for the construction stage include use of proper shoring methods, dewatering only when required, minimising traffic disruption by limiting working hours to evenings and weekends, and consulting with Maldives Traffic Police regarding traffic flow and road closure. To mitigate the impacts to air quality, it is recommended to keep the construction area damp at all times and to minimise the impact of noise to nearby residential houses, it is recommended to fence the site with solid panels Monitor all occupational areas to ensure noise levels do not exceed WHO standards. In addition, nearby properties must be notified by the proponent and an issues registry must be maintained. To avoid impacts on health and safety during operational stage, the building must be designed for fire and safety with sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors installed. All the occupants must be trained atleast once a year. For proper management of the swimming pool, it should be regularly cleaned and filtered and the water must be tested for chlorine and faecal matter. The users of the swimming pool will also be encourage to take a bath before the swim. To facilitate this, two toilets will be developed near the swimming pool. Alternative options were evaluated with “No Project” alternative and for the activities that are identified to have significant impacts on the project. These include options for foundation foundation methods. The currently proposed options are preferred. Consultations were held with Health Protection Agency, MWSC, STELCO and WAMCO nearby residents and businesses for this EIA. Neighbouring properties were mainly concerned about the noise levels and cement spray during construction stage. HPA stressed to maintain the health and safety of the workers and the nearby residents. STELCO and MWSC recommended to allocate adequate space and follow the standards for easy provision and delivery of their services. WAMCO advised to seggarage the waste during operation stage and to register with WAMCO for waste disposal during both operation and construction stage. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for this project is designed to produce a framework for anticipated impacts, including practicable and achievable performance requirements and systems for monitoring, reporting and implementing corrective actions. In addition, provide evidence of compliance to legislation, policies, guidelines and requirements of relevant authorities. Monitoring plan is designed to assess any changes to the physical environment as well as human environment. The total cost of mitigation and monitoring are estimated between USD 3,000 – 5,000 annually. The main conclusion of this report is to proceed with the project but after incorporating the mitigation measures proposed in this report. Safety of the adjacent buildings and occupational health and safety must be a priority. Care must also be taken to minimise the impacts on the nearby residents and businesses work must be completed in the shortest time frame possible.