Citation: | Saleem, M., Le Berre, T., Guignard, C. and Athfal, M. (2008). Environmental impact assessment for the redevelopment of the resort on A. Dh. Vakarufalhi. Male' : Systems Engineering And Marine Consulting. |
Abstract: | • A 100 bed resort has been operating on A.DH. Vakarufalhi since 1992.
It is proposed to further invest in a resort redevelopment comprising
mainly 25 water bungalows, renovating the common areas and staff
quarters and upgrading of the infrastructure.
• The resort on this island is mostly justified by a will to extend the
benefits to strengthen the property and increase the number of rooms
while achieving a better standard. This will further enable to increase
the overall number of beds for the country in keeping with the Second
Tourism Master Plan.
• The present EIA is required under the EPPA (Law no. 4/93), and the
new EIA regulation confirms that such projects do require the
submission of an EIA.
• The total capital investment for the reconstruction phase is estimated
at 10,000,000 USD to establish a 4 star resort.
• The resort will be equipped with all the necessary equipment
compulsory under the different circulars issued by the Ministry of
Tourism and Civil Aviation, in particular a sewage treatment plant, a
powerhouse with diesel generators, fuel tanks and desalination plants,
as well as a solid waste management centre with an incinerator, a
crusher and a compactor.
• All the buildings have been designed with a setback of 5 meters or will
be constructed as water structures. The jetties and water bungalows
as well as the spa complex are the only structures which will be in the
water.
• The water necessary for the resort will be produced through reverse
osmosis plants and the peak demand is estimated at 100 m3
/ day.
• The sewage treatment plant will be of the sequence batch reactor type,
and the outlet will be located on the northern side of the island, where
such an outlet has already been constructed • Green wastes will be either burnt or composted, while the food and
other biodegradable wastes which would putrefy rapidly and attract
pests will be disposed at deep sea on a daily basis. The remaining will
be composted. All non-biodegradable material and the ashes from the
incinerator will be sent to K.Thilafushi.
• The peak demand of power is 350 KW, and the powerhouse will be
equipped with 1x 450KW, 2 x 290 KW and 1 x 160 KW generators.
The three smaller ones are already present on the island. The fuel
tanks will be installed on a concrete bund, and supply will be done via
a pipe laid from the supply jetty.
• Fire prevention will be strictly implemented following the ISO 14000
standards.
• The construction will span a period of 6 months which will be during
the southwest monsoon. The resort will reopen before the subsequent
high tourism season.
• Vakarufalhi is the only island present on its reef system, which lies in
the middle of the atoll. It faces the Digurashu Kandu on its eastern
side, but is protected from the incoming swell by the nearby island of
Kuda Rah.
• The sand movement around the island has been drastically decreased
through the implementation of breakwaters all around the island, and
the beach replenishment activities contributed to the overall increase in
the surface area of the island. Erosion is not a major problem in the
present configuration.
• The weather condition experienced is representative of the Maldives,
with the alternation of the southwest and northeast monsoons. Wave
energy is limited.
• No sea grass is present around the island, and coral life is not great on
the reef. In particular, on the eastern side. In some areas of the
western side, the coral cover is good. A few coral patches of
importance are present in the project area. • The threatened coral colonies will be relocated and an artificial reef
serving the aesthetical, recreational and awareness aspects will be
implemented.
• The fish life is abundant and diverse, and there is a strong correlation
between abundance and rocky substrate.
• The vegetation has already been heavily altered in the past, and a lot
of ornamental species are present. The foot prints of existing buildings
being reutilized, the clearing requirement are limited. The most
significant trees such as coconuts will be relocated.
• Environmentally speaking, the most critical point is the management of
the construction wastes and packaging material, and the careful
implementation of effective waste management practices is a
necessity. The present management of waste disposal is appropriate.
• Eventually, during the operations, the main environmental concern is
global with the increased emission of green house gases.
• Alternatives to the projects include the do-nothing scenario, as well as
different design alternatives.
• The monitoring and reporting of the progress on the island will be
carried out regularly by the consultants. |