Abstract:
This report addresses the environmental concerns of the proposed dredging of an access channel to the Arrival
Jetty of Taj Exotica Resort and Spa located on Emboodhoofinolhu, South Malé Atoll. The primary objective of the
project is to provide access to the island at all times.
The project involves the excavation of a 30m long, 15m wide channel up to 3m from MSL on the western side
between the arrival jetty and the deep lagoon to allow safe access to the island at all tides. The sand that is
excavated will be used to replenish areas of the beach on the eastern and north end of the island where beach is
easily eroded. The sand that will be placed on the beaches need to be sieved or graded to rid it of broken coral
pieces and rubble. The remaining portion of the dredge material would be taken away in a barge and dumped
somewhere offshore such as the deep lagoon or the sea. Since the process of sieving yield material that cannot
be used for any purpose on the island (as per Tourism Regulations) and also the process involves access to
several areas of the beach that would be in use by tourists, the process would require careful planning and
supervision. Therefore, feasible alternatives such as creating a sand bank at a naturally shallow area close to the
dredge location have been proposed. This is the initially proposed option, which was also discussed in the
scoping meeting. However, the Ministry of Tourism has rejected the EIA report requesting the Proponent to
“exclude the development of the sand bank from the EIA report and include an alternative way of disposing the
dredged material”.
The overall negative impacts of the project are mainly short term deterioration of marine water quality, impact on
the coral patch at the end of the proposed channel and altered bathymetry in the area. In addition, the
nourishment of beaches would directly and indirectly improve the quality of the tourism product that is being
offered at least in the short term as no shore protection has been proposed in this project. The project also
encompasses several positive impacts including employment opportunities, improved guest transfer and other
ventures.
Since the project takes place in a resort environment, it would be necessary to ensure that the aesthetics of the
resort are not compromised. Therefore, using a sand pump would be more practicable than using an excavator.
However, both methods are appropriate. In order to improve the EIA process and to assist in future projects, it
would be necessary to undertake monitoring. It has been proposed to undertake monitoring of the shorelines of
the island and oceanographic and hydrodynamic conditions (drogue studies) and water quality.
