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Item Environmental audit report for powerhouse registration at Taj Coral Reef Maldives, Hembadhoo, North Male Atoll(2011-10) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupVivanta by Taj-Coral Reef resort is always seeking ways to provide a better service to its customers. Thereby the resort is about to upgrade the existing powerhouse to provide reliable power and to meet the future power demands of the resort. This report provides the status of the existing environment and assesses the possible measures which could be undertaken to minimize any impact on the environment by the operation of the power facility. Currently the powerhouse is operated under a provisional license from Maldives Energy Authority for the operation of tourist resorts. This island is equipped with all the necessary equipment and facilities required for providing quality services to tourists who arrive at the island. Figure 1 shows the resort with the water villas.The purpose of this Environment Audit (EA) report is to meet the regulations of Maldives Energy Authority (MEA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the registration of power generation facilities at the Vivanta by Taj-Coral Reef resort. This EA would attempt to assess the type of project, its impacts on the environment and potential mitigation options to meet the requirements of MEA and EPA on operation of power generation facility. A Term of Reference (TOR) specifying component of the report was drawn in accordance to the EIA regulation of Maldives. Copy of the TOR is given in Appendix 1. Similarly a copy of the MEA regulation with regard to powerhouse registration is given in Appendix 2.Item Initial environmental examination report for construction of 10 storey building with basement at M. Sunny Inn(2011-09) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupSunny Inn is a 3998 square feet plot located on Kanbaa Aisa Rani Higun road in Maafannu district of Male’. Mr. Ahmed Ismail Maniku (M. Dheefram aage, ID number A012866), as the Client, has proposed to develop a ten storey building with an underground basement. The basement is designed to be used as a parking area, while the ground and first floors will be used as a commercial space and the remaining upper floors will be used as residential apartments. The superstructure of the building is a concrete frame and the substructure of the building is a raft foundation. The proposed project will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase of the project all concrete works will be completed; the second phase will involve finishing works. At the time of report preparation contractor for floor finishing and completion is not yet contracted. This report is an Initial Environmental Examination for the proposed 10 storey building with a basement parking at M. Sunny Inn, Male’. This document has been produced to fulfill the requirements under Article 5 of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (4/93) of the Maldives and has been structured to meet the requirements of the EIA Regulations 2007. EPA circular number EPA (203)‐ EIA/IU/2010/4 states that building projects exceeding 10 storey’s requires an EIA. The proposed project involves construction of a 10 storey building with a basement thus a total of 11 storeys.Item Environmental impact assessment report for resort development at Fushivelavaru, Noonu Atoll(2011-04) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupFushivelavaru is one of the islands the Government of Maldives had recently released for tourism development. These islands were leased on the basis that Maldives had to meet the current projected bed-capacity needs in the Maldives. The non technical summary outlines the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed development of a 100 bed resort on the island of N. Fushivelavaru. The resort at N. Fushivelavaru will be operated by Gladonia Maldives Pvt Ltd. This document presents the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for resort development at N. Fushivelavaru. Developments of this nature are required to carry out EIA studies under the Environmental Act of Maldives. The developer is required to obtain approval of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Ministry of Housing and Environment (MHE), Maldives prior to the implementation of any development activities on the island. Land and Marine Environmental Resource Group Pte Ltd have been engaged Gladonia Maldives Pvt Ltd to prepare the EIA and to provide assistance in other environmental related activities. This EIA is prepared in accordance with Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 and the Government of Maldives environmental policy and guidelines.Item Environmental audit report for the registration of desalination plant at Veligandu Island Resort & Spa, AA. Veligandu, Maldives(2011-10) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupThis Environmental Audit report assesses the environmental components associated with the operation of existing desalination plant at Veligandu Island Resort & Spa North Aril atoll. This report cover specific impact areas resulting from the desalination plant as outlined in the Terms of reference provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Maldives. These specifics are in accordance with the environmental compliance that has to be followed for the registration of Water Section of EPA (Appendix 1). In addition to this water section of EPA also requires the proponent to provide specific technical information when desalination plants are registered as specified in their regulation. A copy of this regulation is given in Appendix 2. Veligandu resort is located in the North Ari Atoll and it is operated as a tourist resort by the Crown Company Pvt. Ltd. The resort consists of 83 rooms; 17 Beach Villa and 55 Water Villa. This environment audit is in accordance with the requirement of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. EPA requires submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment report in applying for registration for desalination plant. The desalination in the island has been operating under the provisional license for the operation of tourist resort at Veligandu Island. This island is equipped with all the necessary equipment all the facilities which require for providing quality services to tourists who arrive the island. The existing desalination plant produce the water required to meet the demand of the island.Item Environmental audit report for registration of desalination plant at Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Maldives(2011-08) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupItem Environmental audit report registration of desalination plant at Adaaran Vadoo Prestige, South Male’ Atoll(2011-10) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupItem Initial environmental evaluation (IEE) : dive centre jetty construction at Guraidhoo, South Male' Atoll, Republic of Maldives(2011-03) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupWater proof Sports limited (a UK based company in association with Mr. Jalaal (resident of Guraidhoo, south Male atoll has proposed to establish a professional dive and water sports centre at Guraidhoo. The proposal has been submitted to the government of Maldives for development approval. Land has been leased to the developer at Guraidhoo after assessment of the proposal by the Ministry of Home affairs and, province office and island office respectively. A copy of the proposal is given in appendix 1 as reference. Copy of the lease permit for the construction of the dive school is provided in Appendix 2. As part of the infrastructure associated with the dive school, a small size jetty dedicated to the dive school has been proposed to develop by the proponent. Coastal development structure such as jetties are required to submit an environmental impact assessment report as specified in the EIA regulation of Maldives that came effective in 2007. A scoping meeting to agree on the terms of reference was held at EPA on 29th December 2010. Based on the description of components project at the scoping meeting it was agreed among the stakeholder that a full EIA would not be required for the project. This was based on the small scale of the project and also its related impacts based on the environmental setting and location of the project. It was decided that an Initial Environmental Evaluation would be sufficient. This Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) report thus fulfils the requirements specified in the Terms of Reference (ToR) prepared for this project as output of the scoping meeting held at EPA between EIA consultant, proponent, representatives from EPA and other relevant stakeholders. In preparing the report consideration has been given to cover the environmental requirements that need to be covered by EIA regulations giving due consideration to the scale, location and usage of the project and its outputs. The Terms of Reference to the project is approved by EPA on 9th January 2011. A copy of ToR is given in Appendix 3. This IEE was based on the fieldwork visit by the consultant to Guraidhoo (project site) in January 2011 to collect site specific information on the project and qualitatively assess the environmental components that would be affected from the implementation of the project.Item Initial environmental evaluation report for the registration of power generation facility at 9 storey building at Iskandharu Koshi, Male’(2011-01) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupThis Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) addresses environmental aspects of operation of a 650KVA generation facility to meet the electricity needs of Iskandharu building developed by Maldives Police Services as their technical headquarters and labs. This Initial Environment Examination (IEE) report is carried out in order to meet the requirements of MEA regulations to register the power generating facility. This is in accordance with the requirement of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Maldives Energy Authority (MEA) guidelines that requires submitting an IEE in applying for registration of an electricity generating facility. Iskandharu Koshi currently houses a 9 storey office building and a 4 storey accommodation building. The 9 storey office building is meant to be used for the forensic and technical works of police work. And it is expected that all forensic and technical labs would be transferred to this building from Shaheed Hussain Adam building. The expected increase in demand and the rising electricity cost from STELCO would increase the operational cost of the facility. In order to reduce the cost and safety measure during power outages, they have planned to use their own power generation to meet their electricity needs in office hours. Initially the power generating facility was installed as a backup power system. However, due to increase in electricity tariff and increase demand for electricity for the building has made the proponent to go for separate power generation for operating the building during peak hours (daytime). The Building is equipped with all the necessary equipments required to operate a power house. It comprises of a generator with extra space for installation of another generator set, distribution network and a panel room. The peak demand for the facility at the moment is estimated to be 90 kW. Once the laboratories and other facilities are established the peak demand of power for the building is expected to rise to be 260 kW. The powerhouse is equipped with 1x 520 kW generators. At present fuel tank in cooperated with the diesel engine set is used; however additional fuel tanks will be installed in future. Presently fuel is pumped using a pipe line attached to the fuel handling vehicle. The main environmental concern in running this facility is emission of green house gases and noise pollution created by this facility. Several actions such as raising the height of the smoke stack, use of smoke filters, increasing the height of the walls and using sound proof materials are proposed to reduce the impact on the environment.Item Initial environmental evaluation report : construction of jetty at Vaadhoo Resort, South Male’ Atoll(2011-06) Land and Marine Environmental Resources GroupThe proposed project involves construction of jetty connecting existing detached honeymoon bungalows at the southern side of Vaadhoo to the island. Coastal development structure such as jetties are required to submit an environmental impact assessment report as specified in the EIA regulation of Maldives that came effective in 2007. A scoping meeting to agree on the terms of reference was held at EPA on 21st April 2011. Based on the description of project components at the scoping meeting it was agreed among the stakeholders that a full EIA would not be required for the project. This was based on the small scale of the project (addition to an existing facility) and also its related impacts based on the environmental setting and location of the project. It was decided that an Initial Environmental Evaluation would be sufficient. This Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) report thus fulfils the requirements specified in the Terms of Reference (ToR) prepared for this project as output of the scoping meeting held at EPA between EIA consultant, proponent, representatives from EPA and other relevant stakeholders. In preparing the report consideration has been given to cover the environmental requirements that need to be covered by EIA regulations giving due consideration to the scale, location and usage of the project and its outputs. The Terms of Reference to the project was approved by EPA on 11th May 2011. A copy of the ToR for this project is given in Appendix 1. This IEE was based on the fieldwork visit by the consultant to K. Vaadhoo Resort in May 2011 to collect site specific information on the project and qualitatively assess the environmental components that would be affected from the implementation of the project.Item Initial environmental examination : taro field water control system at Gan, Gdh. Atoll(2011-11) Land and Marine Environmental Resources Group1. The island of Gan has been infamous for agricultural produce, especially taro production in Huvadhoo Atoll. It has been especially designated by (MOFA) as a farmland for Gadhdhoo island community and is locally administered by the Gadhdhoo Island Council. 2. Among the crops grown in Gan, taro with a cylindrical central corm is found to be the most extensively cultivated crop. Taro is generally cultivated as a wetlands crop. It has been estimated that there are about 150 farmers where the taro fields have been managed and handed over through several generations of same family. 3. Due to the taro farming practice used by farmers water stagnation during the rainy season within the plot for a longer time period has been the case. According to farmers, about half meter of standing water does exist in taro fields. As a result the taro fields get damaged during the rainy season affecting taro cultivation. 4. This assessment report presents the present situation, and strategies and recommendations for water control of taro cultivation in the Gan Island. 5. There are three major areas of taro cultivation in the Gan Island; Hutuwarumaththa, Galakondiyaa and Katamaththa. The total area of the Gan Island as 246 hectares and the relative areas for Hutuwarumaththa, Galakondiyaa and Katamaththa were found to be 12, 12 and 2 ha, respectively. 6. In the process of preparation and designing water management strategy meetings were held with farmers, IDC members and GP members. During these meetings, it was revealed that excess water should be removed from taro field, but needed to retain within the island without directly draining into the sea. 7. Three drain outlets from each of major taro field will be constructed. Two major drains are identified while four sub-drains are identified. These drain outlets will discharge water to nearby areas using absorption canals through a main control gate located several meters away from taro fields. The main drain canal in each taro field will be connected to three absorption drains and each of sub-main canals will be connected to two absorption drains. 8. Locations of main drainage canals and absorption areas were decided based on the general surface water flow pattern considering the lowest possible elevation points, shape of the entire taro field, and by observing the surrounding area. 2 The directions of main canals were decided mainly according the groundwater direction. 9. Three options of water level management in taro plots were identified (i) few centimeters [5-10 cm] of water level on the soil surface, (ii) water level just below the soil surface and (iii) water level below the root zone. The best option found during the discussions as well as experiences from other Islands is the maintaining of few centimeters [5 to 7 cm] of water in plots. The storage of drainage water within the island can be done either as a surface storage or as sub-surface water. 10. All the receiving water from rainfall is retaining within the Island which helps to recharge the groundwater resource and the freshwater lens aquifer as it is the only freshwater resource available in this island. 11. Considering benefits in constructing these drainage Systems, it is expected to have an increase of about 30-40% of taro yield with a proper drainage water management strategy in this island. 12. Farmers are willing to do the operation and maintenance (O & M) of proposed drainage canals with the help of island officials. They want to have a drainage system with control gates where they will be able to manage the amount of water that should be maintained within their fields. With regular O & M the systems can be used for a longer period. In addition, island officials are expected to form farmer organization during this project period where farmer organization will be given more responsibilities in managing their works and other societal activities. 13. The investment on constructing these proposed drainage canals will help farmers to enhance their socio economic status by cultivating taro crop. With a proper water management system, young generation will also engage in taro cultivation which is not very common at present 14. The main maintenance works associated with drainage system would be the removals of silts from drain canals and proper maintenance of the control gates. However, special attention should also be given to absorptions canals especially until the system become a natural wetland. Regular maintenance works such as removal of debris and widening and/or lengthening of absorption canals as required in order to facilitate the infiltration process are necessary.