Environmental impact assessment : the flood mitigation project at Feydhoo, Addu city

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Environment and Energy. This EIA report covers the storm water management project at Feydhoo of Addu City in Maldives. This project would be undertaken on all the flood vulnerable roads of Feydhoo with a total length of more than 5 kilo metres. Feydhoo is one of the islands that is very vulnerable to floods and past such events has caused damages and losses to properties and wellbeing of the people. Due this the government has selected Feydhoo to undertake the flood mitigation project which will be implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and later the operation and maintenance will be handed over to one of the state owned utility company such as FENAKA or MRDC. The proposed project would help to improve the living condition of the island and facilitate the development of the island. The environmental impacts have been assessed and the proposed storm water management system and associated work of the project has been assessed. The storm water management system development and associated work of the project would have some irreversible impacts on the island of Feydhoo. The impacts of the project results mainly from dust, noise, backfilling and levelling of the road surface at the island. There is no requirement for backfilling materials as the excavated material will be adequate and a sand burrow area is not required. The implementation of the project would have socio-economic benefits not only to the Feydhoo Island, but as whole to the group of islands in the city. The socio-economic benefit outweighs far more than the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Feydhoo. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including measures for minimizing negative effects of generation of 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 concept design, detailed design and the land use plan that had been developed for Feydhoo. 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 to the island environment 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 concept 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.