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Technical Report
Environmental impact assessment for the jetty development project at Raiymandhoo in Meemu Atoll : first addendum
(2017-08) ވޯރޓާރ ސޮލިއުޝަން; Water Solutions
This report addresses environmental concerns of the proposed changes to the Jetty Construction Project at M. Raiymandhoo Island. The findings of the environmental impact study was undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure for the proposed jetty development project. The EIA of the project was submitted in June 2015 and approved by EPA. It is advised that the reader should refer to the report for further details. Currently island of Raiymandhoo is among the few inhabited island of Maldives without a modern harbour. Island communities use a jetty on the west side of the island to access the island. The existing jetty is now wholly damaged and not safe for daily uses. The lagoon area on this side has shallow areas. Therefore large vessels cannot access to jetty. To ease this problem government of Maldives has proposed to construct a jetty on west side of Raiymandhoo and to dredge a channel to access the jetty. The initial proposal was to construct 36m long and 4m width jetty. However, to improve accessibility and to meet the requirements of island community, the concept was changed. Under the new concept, a jetty of 31.15m long and 4m width walkway will be constructed. As well as an area of 40m x 40m will be dredged adjacent to the jetty to use as a basin. In addition, a new entrance channel of 24m width and 325m length will be dredged to access the jetty basin. Environmental impacts of the projects were assessed during the EIA process. The significant impacts will be felt mainly during dredging. Impact of sedimentation is anticipated to be felt on nearby reef areas. Sedimentation will reduce visibility in the project area and may cause smothering of corals and seagrass. Details of the impacts and their characterizations are outlines in the report. Mitigation measures for the anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail. These mitigation measures needs to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. The details of the project have been established after considering the needs and requirements of the community. An environmental monitoring plan has been developed including important elements that require regular checks. This monitoring component will be adhered to and will allow the assessment of changes due to jetty construction project. Although the project involves inevitable negative environmental impacts, such impacts cannot be justified to not undertake the project as the social impacts of the project far outweigh the benefits. The project is therefore justifiable in light of the socioeconomic conditions and anticipated benefits resulting from the project, which seem to outweigh the negative environmental impacts.
Technical Report
Environmental impact assessment for the road development project at Dhihdhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll : first addendum
(Water solutions. (2017). Environmental impact assessment for the road development project at Dhihdhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll : first addendum. Male': Maldives, 2017-07) ވޯރޓާރ ސޮލިއުޝަން; Water Solutions
This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Maldives Road Development Cooperation. This EIA Addendum report covers road development project at Dhihdhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll. The EIA of the project was submitted in May 2015 to EPA and EIA approval was issued to undertake this project on 16th June 2015 from EPA; Ref: 203-ADMIN/138/2015/128. Presently the project is ongoing and changes to the borrow location has been proposed by the proponent to expedite the project and complete on as soon as possible. Initially it was proposed to borrow sand for backfilling from sand piled on the reclaimed site which is located on North Western side of the island. However the sand from the area were too fine and not suitable for backfilling. Therefore the additional sand required for backfilling will be borrowed by dredging the South end side of the island, where development of vessel beaching area project is ongoing. The proposed project will have negative environmental impacts as the borrowing is proposed from island lagoon with close proximity to south side reef. As identified in the EIA process, during dredging, there will be sedimentation in the area. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including measures for minimizing negative effects of the sedimentation. These mitigation measures will have to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. 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 road development project. Although the project involves inevitable negative environmental impacts, such impacts are predicted to be not severe as not to undertake the project with proper mitigation and monitoring. 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.
Technical Report
Environmental impact assessment, for the Hulhule-Hulhumale connecting link road development project, North Male’ Atoll
(2017-07) ވޯރޓާރ ސޮލިއުޝަން; Water Solutions
This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact assessment undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd for undertaking the construction of the link road between Hulhule-Hulhumale connecting link road. The project is proposed by Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Hulhumale Island is developed on the eastern rim of North Male’ atoll between the island of Farukolhufushi (now part of Hullhumale) and Hulhule island. The island of Hulhumale has been an important growth centre since its development. Presently, Hulhumale is the fastest growing urban centre and has residential as well as industrial developments to a scale that has never been experienced anywhere in the Maldives. Being close to Male’ and the airport, Hulhumale has been attracting migrants from all over the Maldives. Construction of the Male’ to Hulhule bridge is presently the biggest infrastructure project under construction. This project is very much tied with the present link road as this link road will provide direct connection of Hullhumale and the bridge, ultimately making the traffic flow from Hulhumale to Male’. This road will be constructed on the east side of the existing land mass of Hulhule airport by reclaiming a small area further west of the existing island. The proposed road will consists of three zones. The proposed project is an important infrastructure development requirement for the development of greater Male’ region. As the project takes place in a congested zone with the airport being in the centre of the project boundary, some of the components of the project overlaps with existing legislations. Therefore, these must be addressed and an engineering solution should be sorted to achieve its objectives in the most environmentally friendly manner. The need to shift the road further east arose due to the changes that were brought to the sea plan landing and take off orientations to avoid flying over Hulhumale. Therefore, without the proposed shift in location, the road cannot be constructed. Environmental impacts were assessed and most of the environmental impacts of the project have been identified as resulting mainly from the coral reef damage caused by reclamation of additional land. Mitigation measures for the negative impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, especially sedimentation control methods. The most important mitigation measure is the use of bund walls in the fill areas. Coastal protection has been proposed on the east side of the reclaimed land and the methodology proposed does not pose serious environmental concerns. The proposed mitigation measures will have to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. As the existing road is presently used by limited number of vehicles and the fact that this is not a public road, social impacts during the construction period will be limited and manageable. The EIA was undertaken to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed link road construction. Based on the assessment, it has been identified that the major impacts of the project will be felt on the marine environment during the construction stage. The EIA report also highlights some of the studies and research work undertaken in similar environments, especially in Male’، to understand the impacts of construction works close to reef slope and how this knowledge can be transferred to similar environments based on the type of coastal protection methods in use. The mitigation measures are provided in the report with alternatives. It is vital to conduct the activities, during both project planning and construction phase, in line with mitigation measures emphasized in the report. Socio-economic impacts of the proposed project will be immense as direct land connection of Male’ and Hulhumale would bring significant benefits to the general public. Connection of Hulhumale, Male’ and the airport is a vital transportation link that would save time and money for more than 100,000 people residing in the greater Male’ region. The environmental impacts of various projects that are currently being undertaken in the airport region have caused significant damage to reef in various areas. This project will also have its impacts, but the impacts will not be anything greater than to what the environment has already been subjected to. Therefore a comprehensive monitoring programme has been suggested which covers components of coastal and marine environment to assess how the critical components of this project will affect the environment and to what extent. It is important to follow this monitoring programme not only to comply with the regulation but also to ensure that the impacts are measures in realistic terms. Though some of the components of this project contravenes with the Dredging and reclamation regulation; the regulation also exempts this project as Hulhule island is a special zone. Under clause 10 of the dredging and reclamation regulation, special projects are exempted. As the environmental consultants, it is our opinion that this project should be allowed to proceed as the environmental impacts of this project does not pose serious concerns to the natural environment. It is a project that has far greater socio-economic benefits than these limited environmental impacts.