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Item Post-tsunami infrastructure rehabilitation project : rehabilitation of 6 selected harbors : social and environmental impact assessment for the rehabilitation of the harbor in Makunudhoo island, Haa Dhaal atoll(2007-11) SOGREAH Consultants; Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and SOGREAH consultants of France upon request from Ministry of Construction and Public Infrastructure. The project involves the rehabilitation of the existing harbour in Makunudhoo, Haa Dhaal Atoll with improved infrastructures. This project is initiated by the government of Maldives with funding from Agence Française de Dévelopement” (AFD) as part of the Tsunami rehabilitation programme. The harbour of Makunudhoo has been damaged to various extents and requires repair and upgrading, including deepening the harbour basin, and increasing slightly the size. A detail assessment of the environmental and social conditions was assessed based on which a rehabilitation project has been proposed. This EIA has been prepared to assess the social and environmental impacts of this proposed rehabilitation project. Major environmental impacts of the project have been identified as resulting mainly from dredging and disposal of dredged materials. Dredging will be undertaken in the harbour basin and to some extent in the access channel. In view of the assessment, the environmental damages to marine resources have not been considered major due to the limited boundary of the project and also due to confined nature of the project. The impacts are likely to be felt on an estimated 5% of the lagoon and reef‐flat of that extensive reef system. These environmental impacts were assessed for both construction and operation phase of the project. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation control methods and other measures. These mitigation measures will have to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. Stakeholder consultations were held with various groups, including the community and the client in order to incorporate the socio‐ economic components in the project. The proposed rehabilitation plans for Makunudhoo has been prepared after considering the needs and requirements from the community by assessing and incorporating the outcomes from the extensive community consultations held during the data collection stage. It is inevitable that there would be some negative environmental impacts, especially when dredging is undertaken. However, these minor negative impacts out weight the socioeconomic benefits gained by rehabilitating the harbour. As a result, a comprehensive monitoring component has been suggested which takes in to consideration, the most important elements that require regular checks. This monitoring component will be adhered and will allow the assessment of long term changes, despite the limited nature of the impact. The most important consideration is the socioeconomic impacts that have been assessed mainly as positive in nature. Not only they are positive, but most importantly in the long term. Therefore, it appears justified from a technical and from an environmental point of view, to carry out the proposed rehabilitation project if the island is to absorb the economic gains achieved by the project.Item Environmental impact assessment for the proposed construction of housing units at Hanimaadhoo(Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, 2008-05) Water SolutionsItem Environmental impact assessment for the redevelopment at AA. Kandholhudhoo as a resort island(2013-12) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of an environmental study undertaken as Environmental Impact Assessment carried out for the redevelopment of Kandholhudhoo as Resort Island. This environmental study has been undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. for the redevelopment of Kandholhudhoo as a 30 room resort island. This project is proposed by Kandholhudhoo Island Investment pvt ltd. Kandholhudhoo Island Investment has been operating Kandholhudhoo Island as a picnic island. Kandholhudhoo is located North Ari Atoll approximately 74 km west of Malé. The developer is proposing to redevelop the picinic island at the Kandholhudhoo. This includes adding additional 7 pool villas on northern side of the island to reflect the current market trends, renovating existing 6 land villas as beach villas and adding additional 6 beach villas and 5 deluxe beach villas. The redevelopment includes additional services and facilities to support a 30 room resort island. Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture approved the proposed redevelopment project at Kandholhudhoo. This EIA report has identified that the major impacts of the project will be felt on the marine environment since new water villa construction will take place in the lagoon. Impacts on the marine environment will be felt through sedimentation and siltation caused by the construction activities on the lagoon and the associated indirect impacts on the coral reef, during this period. Baseline data has, therefore, been collected in order to monitor the changes to the marine environment which will be identified in follow up monitoring reports. The most significant impact will be felt on the lagoon bottom, rather than the coral reef. Alternatives to the project have also been considered in detail and several alternatives to the proposed project were considered, including alternative methods of water villa construction. Once alternative that has been suggested is to construct the water villas on large but minimal number of columns. Other alternatives considered include alternative locations and construction strategy. Due to various reasons, these alternatives have not been considered. The advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives have been discussed and they include environmental as well as financial reasons. Therefore, several design considerations, although initially were considered, has been rejected due to these reasons. Towards, the end of the report, a monitoring programme has been suggested which mainly covers the marine environment. These include coral cover and marine water quality among many other parameters. As the impacts are felt on the marine environment, it is important to undertake this monitoring.Item Environmental impact assessment for the reconstruction of a harbour in Maabaidhoo Island, Laamu Atoll, Maldives(2013-09) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. upon request from Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. The project involves reconstruction of a harbour at the island of Maabaidhoo in, Laamu Atoll. This project is initiated by the government of Maldives as part of its national programme to provide safe harbours to each and every inhabited island in Maldives. Presently, the lack of an appropriate harbour is not only the biggest obstacles faced by the islanders, but the reason why the economic growth of the island is not expanding and diversified. Lack of an appropriate harbour has many development obstacles for islands and similarly, Maabaidhoo is also faced with similar dilemma. At present, the islanders depend on favourable weather conditions to get on and off the island. In rough weather, getting in and out of the island is difficult. In south west monsoon, due to lack of an breakwater make the harbour difficult to use and moore the boats. The proposed project is therefore geared towards developing a third generation harbour on the western side of the island at the existing foot print of the harbour. This harbour is expected to ease many of the challenges faced by the islanders, especially for the vessel owners, as safe mooring will be guaranteed. An environmental assessment was undertaken for this project and the findings are reported in this EIA. This EIA has been prepared to assess the environmental impacts of this proposed harbour reconstruction project. As this is a redevelopment project, significant negative impacts on the marine environment will not be felt through habited modification and direct destruction of the marine environment. Similarly, the coral reef will also be not directly and indirectly impacted from this project. At the same time, the socio-economic impacts of the project will be significantly felt on a very larger group, and not necessarily the islanders only. In such projects, environmental damage cannot be avoided and hence the goal should be to undertake the works in the most least damaging manner. As some area of the marine and coastal environment will be affected, careful implementation of mitigation measures and adopting methods which minimizes damage will be key for this project. Most of these measures are best practice guidelines and protocols that does not require a lot of money to implement. Stakeholder consultations were held with various groups, including the island council and the client in order to incorporate the socio-economic components in the project. Stakeholders, most importantly the island community represented by the Island council was the most significant as they have the maximum knowledge and experience from the daily difficulties faced due to lack of a harbour. The redevelopment of the harbour at Maabaidhoo will have some environmental impacts to the island, most of which will be felt on the coastal and the marine environment. The island had been facing erosion since the existing harbour was developed in early 90s. However, natural erosion of the island has been affected to the southern. The biggest threat to islands when a harbour is developed is the disruption it causes to the natural movement of the beach. The social impacts of this project will be significant and will benefit the community as well as the region. The development of a harbour in Maabaidhoo is expected to increase the annual visitor numbers significantly which will have numerous environmental impacts. Therefore, it is justifiable to undertake this project.Item Addendum to environmental impact assessment for the changes that had been made to the harbour rehabilitation project at Kurendhoo Island, Lavaiyani Atoll, Maldives(2013-03) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure for the changes proposed to harbour rehabilitation project at Lh, Kurendhoo. Kurendhoo with a total land area of about 19.9 hectares is located at 5º32’59’ N and 73º27’57” E. The island is inhabited island, with slightly over 72.0 persons per hectare. Kurendhoo is in a strategic location given that it is located in the middle of all inhabited islands of the atoll with easy access for inter- and intra-atoll travel. The closest inhabited island is Maafilaafushi, which was chosen by the Government as a potential growth-focused island. The Ministry of Housing and Environment awarded the Kurendhoo harbor developed project to Works Cooperation Limited in 2011 to develop the harbor in accordance with the “EIA for the proposed rehabilitation of harbour in Kurendhoo, Lhaviyani Atoll, February 2011”. EPA approved the proposed harbor development project at Kurendhoo which was outlined in the EIA report. The actual harbor development project deviated from the original plans that were approved by EPA. EPA intervened and stopped the project in 2012. When EPA intervened, 12,000 m2 of area was reclaimed on south of harbor from the material that was excavated from the harbor basin. This was the material that needs to dispose to the area that was eroding on north eastern side of the island. 166 m of the quay wall has been completed and the dredging of the harbor basin has been completed. The island community, island council and the MP of the island has requested the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure to bring some changes to the original plan that had been approved. Hence following changes has been made to the Kurendhoo Harbour Development project. - Extending the quay wall to northern section of the harbor. Total quay wall would be 300 m - Construction of a rock boulder revetment on north eastern side of the island to mitigate sever erosion - Construction of a rock boulder breakwater on either side of the entrance channel - Construction of 450 m of rock boulder breakwater to protect the harbor basin - Construction of 276 m of coral revetment to protect the area that had been reclaimed - Removal of the 6,875 m2 of sand from the area that had been reclaimed on south side of the island. - Replenishment of 3,900 m2 of area on north eastern side of the island and 1,570 m2 on south eastern side of the island. - Placement of marker lights on the entrance channel and the navigation light to mark the entrance channel to the atoll. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the additional works for the harbour development project were assessed. The impacts of the project result mainly from excavation of the harbour basin of the area that had not been excavated, placement of the breakwater, construction of the breakwaters at the entrance channel, construction of the revetment and disposal of the excavated materials as to mitigate the erosion on north west and south eastern side of the island. The impact of excavation would be that of sedimentation. The excavation area also falls to the hard rock area of the reef flat and hence this would cause difficult to excavate using light machineries. It is recommended to use heavy machineries to excavate the western sections of the harbour basin. The project would help to address the current erosion problem by replenishing the eroding beach with the materials borrowed from the harbour basin. The socio-economic benefits of the project may be considered to outweigh the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the island especially increasing the usable space on north western side of the island. The proposed project conforms to prevalent environmental legislation and thrives to achieve its objectives in a environmentally friendly manner. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation and stagnation control methods and measures for minimizing negative effects of construction waste. These mitigation measures need to be followed in order to minimize environmental damage. The details of the additional component of the project have been established after considering the needs and requirements of the community by assessing and incorporating the outcomes from the stakeholder consultations held during the data collection stage. The EIA also allowed to explore the best possible alternatives for the proposed development and identified key mitigation strategies. Alternative locations and alternative designs 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, safety and incorporation of the expectation of all stakeholders. An environmental management plan with 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 construction of the harbour. Although the project involves negative environmental impacts, such impacts are not severe as to not bring changes to the original harbour development project. The changes to 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.Item Environmental impact assessment for the rehabilitation and repair of the harbour, Kumundhoo Island, Haa Dhaal Atoll, Maldives(2013-01) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. upon request from Ministry of Housing. The project involves rehabilitation of the existing harbour in Kumundhoo Island in, Haa Dhaal Atoll with modifications to the existing infrastructures. This project is initiated by the government of Maldives as part of harbour rehabilitation programme. The present harbour of Kumundhoo has not been constructed in the best manner resulting in operational difficulties and issues. The harbour has been constructed in 2009 to ease the access difficulties faced by the island for years. Unfortunately, the height of the breakwaters is not adequate to stop wave overtopping. The height of the quay walls and the breakwater is about a meter lower than the existing island. During the harbour construction, the adjacent area between the island and the harbour has been reclaimed about 1 meters below the existing island level. Furthermore, the entrance channel is not adequately protected from waves due to the short breakwater protection. These design issues create conditions insides the harbour that makes it very difficult to fully utilize the harbour. The proposed rehabilitation is therefore geared towards rehabilitating the breakwaters and extending the breakwaters on the edge of the entrance channel. A detail environmental and social condition was assessed based on which recommendations have been proposed. This EIA has been prepared to assess the social and environmental impacts of this proposed rehabilitation project. Major environmental impacts of the project have been identified as resulting mainly reconstruction of the breakwater. As the harbour has been completed few years ago, the surrounding marine environment has not fully recovered and it’s in a stage of growth. In view of the assessment, the environmental damages to marine resources have not been considered major due to the limited boundary of the project and also due to confined nature of the project. The impacts are likely to be felt on an estimated 2% of the reef along the entire reef system. These environmental impacts were assessed for both construction and operation phase of the project. Stakeholder consultations were held with various groups, including the island council and the client in order to incorporate the socio-economic components in the project. Stakeholders, most importantly the island community represented by the Island council was the most significant as they have the maximum knowledge and experience from the daily difficulties faced. Apart from this, they receive complains from boat owners and other harbour users on a daily basis and these have been It is inevitable that there would be some negative environmental impacts, especially when the breakwater is reconstructed. During the breakwater construction stage, all the corals in this area will be entirely destroyed and killed. However, these negative impacts out weight the socioeconomic benefits gained by rehabilitating the harbour. As a result, a comprehensive monitoring component has been suggested which takes in to consideration, the most important elements that require regular checks. This monitoring component will be adhered and will allow the assessment of long term changes, despite the limited nature of the impact. The most important consideration is the socioeconomic impacts that have been assessed mainly as positive in nature. Not only they are positive, but the impacts will be felt in the long term. The rehabilitation of the harbour in Kumundhoo does not pose a major threat to the environment. The key component in this project is increasing the height of the breakwaters. It takes place in an environment that has been already damaged significantly, but is undergoing recovery. Therefore, environmental impacts are not going to be of serious concern. However, the social impacts of this project will be significant and will benefit the community as well as other harbour users from the region. Therefore, it is clearly justifiable to undertake this project.Item Environmental impact assessment the road development at DH. Kudahuvadhoo(2013-05) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Maldives Road Development Cooperation. This EIA report covers road development project at Kudahuvadhoo, Dhaalu Atoll. This project would undertake road development at 13 roads of Kudahuvadhoo. The total length of the roads that would be developed would be 6.3 km. Kudahuvadhoo is one of the islands in a group of islands that government has selected to undertake the road project implemented by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. Road Development project is implemented at islands where there is a huge demand for residential and commercial land. The proposed project would help to improve the living condition of the island and facilitate the focus island development at the selected island. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the project were assessed. The road developed and associated work with the project would have irreversible impacts on the island of Kudahuvadhoo. The impacts of the project result mainly from excavation of the shallow lagoon to borrow the backfill material to level the road surface and levelling work carried out at the roads. The impact of the excavation activities would be of sedimentation. This impact is considered to be minor and short-term. The implementation of the project and paving the road surface would have socio-economic benefits to the central region of the Maldives. The socio-economic benefit outweigh the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Kudahuavadhoo. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation and stagnation control methods and 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 landuse plan that had been developed for Kudahuavadhoo. 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 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 landuse 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.Item Environmental impact assessment for the reclamation at Kudahuvadhoo, Dhaalu Atoll(2013-05) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study (EIA) undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. This EIA report covers for reclamation and coastal protection project at Kudahuvadhoo, Dhaalu Atoll. This project would reclaim 65hectres of land at Kudahuvadhoo and undertake coastal protection. The nineteen hundred and fiftycubic meters of the fill materials for the reclamation would be borrowed using Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger from borrow sites identified by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. 25% of the total reclaimed area perimeter would be protected using rock revetment. Kudahuvadhoo is one of the islands in a group of islands that government has designated to be reclaimed as part of the land reclamation project implemented by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. Government’s land reclamation project is implemented at islands where there is a huge demand for residential and commercial land. The proposed project would help to provide additional land that can be utilised for residential purposes. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the project were assessed. The reclamation of the shallow lagoon at Kudahuavadhoowould have irreversible impacts on the island of Guriadhoo. The impacts of the project result mainly from dredging and reclamation work. The impact of both activities would be of sedimentation. This impact is considered to be minor and short-term. During dredging and reclamation activity, impact of sedimentation on inhabited islands, nearby resort and diving sites are a concern that needs to address. The reclamation and coastal protection of reclaimed land would have socio-economic benefits to the central region of the Maldives.The socio-economic benefit outweigh the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Kudahuavadhoo especially allowing more land to further expand and develop the island as a regional centre. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation and stagnation control methods and 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 landuse plan that had been developed for Kudahuavadhoo. Alternative locations and alternative designs 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 due to the reclamation of additional land at Kudahuvadhoo lagoon. 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 landuse 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.Item Environmental impact assessment the road development at HDH. Khulhudhufushi(2013-07) Water SolutionsThis 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 report covers road development project at Khulhudhufushi, Haa Dhaalu Atoll. This project would undertake new road development at 18 roads of Khulhudhufushi. The total length of the roads that would be developed would be 5.3 km. As part of the project, the road surface of the Ameeni Magu, the road which had been started to develop, would be finished using hot rolled asphalt. Khulhudhufushi is one of the islands in a group of islands that the Government has selected to undertake the road development project implemented by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. Road development project is implemented at islands where there is a huge demand for residential and commercial land. The proposed project would help to improve the living condition of the island and facilitate the focus island development at the selected island. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the project were assessed as part of this study. The road developed and associated work of the project would have significant visible impacts on the island of Khulhudhufushi. The impacts of the project result mainly from levelling of the roads that is planned for development as part of the project. As part of the levelling work, the surface layer of the road would be scraped out. The sand that is removed from the levelling work would be used as backfilling materials of the roads that needs additional sand as backfill. Additional material would be borrowed from western side of the island for backfilling work. The implementation of the project and paving the road surface would have socio-economic benefits to the central region of the Maldives. The socio-economic benefits outweigh the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Khulhudhufushi. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including measures for minimizing negative effects of the management 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 landuse plan that had been developed for Khulhudhufushi. 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 due 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 in accordance with the landuse 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.Item Environmental impact assessment for the Hulhumalé second phase reclamation & development of a harbour quay wall at Hulhumalé(2013-01) Water SolutionsThis report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study (EIA) undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Housing Development Coorperation (HDC). This EIA report covers two projects; reclamation and coastal protection of Hulhumalé phase 2 and development of a harbour quay wall at Hulhumalé. The reclamation and coastal protection of Hulhumalé phase 2 is the first step to develop Hulhumalé 2 in accordance with the Hulhumalé development master plan. This project would reclaim 244 hectres of land at Hulhumalé lagoon and undertake coastal protection. The two million cubic meters of the fill materials for the reclamation would be borrowed using Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger from borrow sites identified by EPA. The harbour quay wall project at Hulhumalé would be implemented on southern side by developing a 100 m quay wall. A harbour basin would be dredged to -3 m at MSL and the excavated material would be used as a back fill of the quay wall which will be constructed using concrete L blocks. Hulhumale development project was initiated by the government to address the issue ofchronic congestion in Malé. The phase 1 of the project commenced in October 1997 and the reclamation was completed in 2001. Under phase 1 of the project 188 ha was reclaimed that would serve an estimated target population of 60,000. With the completion of existing housing infrastructure, the land available for residential development is very limited. Hence HDC is proposing to undertake the Hulhumalé second phase reclamation to facilitate the development project needs be undertaken to meet the residential demand. The harbour quay wall project is to facilitate a safe mooring area at Hulhumale for the vessels to load and unload cargo. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of both components of the project were assessed. The reclamation of the shallow lagoon, reef flat, creation of an entrance channel would have irreversible impacts on the Hulhumalé reef. The impacts of the project result mainly from dredging and reclamation work. The impact of both activities would be of sedimentation. This impact is considered to be minor and short-term. During dredging and reclamation activity, impact of sedimentation on inhabited islands, resorts and diving sites are a concern that needs to address. The reclamation and coastal protection of Hulhumaé phase 2 and harbour quay wall project would have socio-economic benefits to the greater Malé region. The socio-economic benefit outweigh the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Hulhumalé especially allowing more land to further expand the urban centre development of Hulhumalé. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation and stagnation control methods and 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 Hulhumalé master plan. Alternative locations and alternative designs have been investigated for the different components of the project. However, the present project design seems to be 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 adhered to and would allow to assess the changes due to the reclamation of additional land at Hulhumalé lagoon. 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 master plan. 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.