Environmental impact assessment for the proposed six storey building with a basement, land lot A-10079 Hulhumalè, Maldives

Abstract

1. The report has been prepared for Ms. Maanaa Raafiu M. Kuredhige to fulfill the legal requirement of EIA regulation 2012 Schedule D which requires obtaining environmental clearance from The Environmental Protection Agency prior to construction of a building with a basement or buildings that have a foundation deeper than 5feet from the ground level. The proposed project involves development of a six storey building with a basement in Hulhumalè Lot 10079 (A-133) located on the north eastern side Dhiggaa Magu in Neighbourhood 1 (N1). 2. The total area of the lot is 152.8m2 and the building footprint is on 137.5m2. The proposed 6- Storey private residential building will have apartments in mezzanine, first, second, third and fourth floors. The terrace will have a 12.5m2 swimming pool and a raised deck. The basement will have provision for accommodation on one half and other half for vehicle parking. 3. The inclusion of a basement floor in the building requires the foundation to be laid at a deeper depth than the foundation of a typical building without a basement and so it is proposed to be at 2.11m below ground level. The biggest concern in excavating for this depth is the protection of foundation s of the adjacent buildings. Since the foundation depth of the proposed building will be deeper than the foundation depth of adjacent buildings. Detailed procedure to be used to construct the foundation of the building is described in the report. 4. Ambient noise levels, road traffic condition, groundwater, soil, vegetation, and a exterior visual survey of the surrounding buildings and roads have been undertaken to assess the environmental condition of the area. 5. The study showed that the road traffic is extremely low approximately one vehicle in every 1- 2 minutes. Exterior visual survey of the surrounding buildings show no significant structural defects apart from the minor surface cracking. Road condition of Dhigaa magu Nirolhumagu 06 Goalhi and Nirolhumagu 09 Goalhi are in good condition. It is unlikely the existing road structures will be affected from the proposed development. The land plot is covered with various types’ of plants (shrubs and creepers) due to human intervention. The dominating low level bush contains a large number of Ipili pili (Leucaena leucocephala) and a medium sized Casuarina plant was found inside the land plot. The removal bushes, creeper and the Casuarina plant from the project area will be insignificant in terms of environmental impacts. 6. The environmental impact assessment study for construction of six-storey building with a basement in Hulhumalè Lot A10079 found that foundation excavation and dewatering and waste are two main activities that would cause significant negative environmental impacts. 7. Of these a long term impact would be from constructional waste. The waste material generated during construction phase needs to be appropriately disposed if not aesthetic conditions of the surrounding environment will be degraded in addition to health risks, dust odour and smell nuisance to nearby residents is anticipated. Hazardous waste such as waste oil and lubricants if not disposed properly it will contaminate and pollute the groundwater. These impacts would be cumulative and can be managed through proper monitoring and addressing them in a timely manner. Based on the scale of the construction projects that is taking place in Maldives at the time of this writing, impacts associated with this project activity is insignificant. 8. Impact of dewatering on groundwater table will be short-term in nature, including loss of groundwater from the project boundary and vicinity. Major impact of dewatering would be increased salinity of ground water within the vicinity areas for s short period of time. Considering the fact that most of the households nowadays are using piped water for daily house hold uses, there will be no direct impact to the households from increased salinity but the impact would be felt for the trees nearby the site. 9. The study has evaluated alternative options for the project activities and evaluated potential option for power generation and alternative foundation options. Even though there is no very significant impact from this project after the report has come-up with an extensive monitoring programme that will keep on monitoring environmental changes associated with the project and make necessary adjustment based on the findings of various measured environmental parameters suggested in the monitoring plan. 10. The study found that the proposed project is in line with key legal and policies maintained by the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and EPA including Environmental Protection and Preservation Act, EIA Regulations, Hulhumalè Planning Guidelines and Maldives National Building Code. 11. Therefore on the basis of this environmental impact assessment study and the impact mitigation measures proposed in the report will be duly implemented and recommendations are given due consideration, it is concluded that the benefits of the proposed construction of six storey building with a basement is Hulhumalè Plot A 10079 will substantially outweigh its imposition on the environment