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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 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 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 Environmental impact assessment report for resort development at Kudavillingili, Kaafu Atoll(2011-10) Land and Marine Environmental Resources Group1.1 BACKGROUND The non technical summary outlines the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed development of a 700 bed five star luxury resort on the island of Kudavillingili by Kudavillingili Development Pvt Ltd, a Maldivian registered company which is a joint venture between Yacht Tours Maldives and Government of Maldives (95% and 5% shares respectively). 1.2 PROJECT DETAIL Kudavillingili will be developed as a 5 star luxury resort offering a unique and exclusive product. The project will involve construction of land villas, water villas, service facilities, support facilities and a yacht marina. The project also involves beach creation and back filling works at Kudavillingili as well as reclamation of land to increase the land area of the island to accommodate the targeted bed capacity.Item Environmental impact assessment report harbor development works at Milandhoo, Shaviyani Atoll(2010-03) Land and Marine Environmental Resources Group1. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is to fulfill the regulatory requirements under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives prior to the proposed harbor development at Milandhoo in South Male Atoll. 2. Design and size of the harbor are decided by the Harbor Technical Committee, which the former Ministry of Planning and National Development heads (now Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance and Treasury). The implementation agency of the harbor project is former Ministry of Construction and Public Infrastructure (now Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment). The harbor location is finalized with the consent of the Island Development Committee (IDC) and Harbor Committee of Milandhoo. 3. The existing entrance at Milandhoo was cleared some 15 years back during the initial development of the island for resettlement of Sh Maakandoodhoo population. Since then the entrance has not been maintenance dredged. At present large vessels such as cargo dhonis can navigate the channel lagoon up to the two access jetties of the island at the western bay shape area. 4. The proposed development project involves development of a 229.4m x 91m harbor and a 22m wide, 200m long entrance channel. The harbor protection walls will be constructed using armor stones, while the wharves will be of “L” section concrete elements. Dredged material will be used for back filling at the back of the harbor, either side of the harbor and rest of the dredged material will be stockpiled for future use such as leveling of roads. Sand stock pile is to be located east of the harbor at the marsh land (proposed by IDC). Revetment walls will be constructed at northern and southern sides of the harbor for additional protection. The harbor development will be funded by the government of Maldives under the Access Improvement Programme implemented by the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Environment (MHTE). 5. This report provides the results of the fieldwork carried out on Milandhoo in July and December 2008 and associated public and community consultations that followed. The environmental impacts arising from the proposed developments are predicted based on the findings of the fieldwork along with the activities that cause these impacts during the construction and operational phases. 6. Existing environment was examined to identify significant environmental components that would be affected and to establish a baseline condition of the site. Available and relevant literature on environmental impacts associated with similar projects was evaluated to identify possible impacts. Oceanographic data and information on local hydrodynamics were qualitatively assessed to determine the current pattern around the island which was based on monsoonal wind patterns, wind generated waves, tidal flushing, geographic setting, the topography of the lagoon and shape of the shoreline. 7. Two sites were selected to assess reef benthos and selected fish community as the baseline data which would also be considered for long-term monitoring program to monitor the impact of the project. In addition to the fish and benthic surveys, seawater quality was assessed in the lagoon at the west central area. 8. The substrate of the lagoon is mostly abiotic. The area to be dredged is dominated with rock and sand, while entrance area has significant cover of laminar and branching forms of acroporids. At the slope area massive and tabular forms are abundant. Compared to survey site proximity of project area, the site RF1 (near existing entrance), live coral cover is low. Large patch of Porties cylindrica is observed just inside either side of existing entrance. 9. The southern side of the harbor is near low laying marshy area; this area is entirely composed of Dhiggaa. Mangrove pond is observed at the south western side of the island, facing the southern quadrant. The harbor front area will be filled and located off the existing shoreline therefore no direct impacts are envisaged. 10. It is important to note that the most significant impact associated with the project would be impact on the marine environment from sedimentation. Dredging and excavation often carry a heavy load of sediments increasing sediment load in the water column causing discoloration due to suspended sediments of the impact area for a prolonged period. 11. The proposed entrance is at the south western side of the harbor, which would probably increase the maintenance dredging frequency. The dominant flow of sediment at the reef system (assessing the satellite images and beach) is west wards from southern and northern side accreting at the west central area. Therefore entrance will sit at an area where sediment flow will be highest. Increased maintenance dredging also means sustained sedimentation, which would give less time for the reef habitat to recover. Also it has to be noted that cutting a new entrance will have impact on the hydrodynamic regime of the island possibly causing change lagoonal current flow. In terms of live coral cover the proposed entrance location has higher cover compared to existing entrance area. 12. Considering the environmental impacts envisaged, the consultants recommend changing the location of the entrance. At present an existing entrance is located at the west central area of the reef cutting to the lagoon. This entrance was cut some 15 years back is has been used by the community as an access to the island. It has to be noted that this entrance is approximately 300-350m from harbor basin (depending of shape of entrance), also according to the island office, this entrance can be used through out the year apart from few days when extreme weather is experienced. 13. Environmental impacts associated with the proposed project are considered minor to moderate. The significant environmental components that are likely to be affected are the coral community established on the reef flat and changes to littoral drift and near-shore coastal hydrodynamics. Impact on the coral community from sedimentation as a result of excavation is inevitable. 14. Mitigation measures are provided in the report for impacts that were categorized minor to moderate. Impact mitigation measures and monitoring is carried out to compare predicted and actual impacts occurring from project activities to determine the efficiency of the mitigation measures. The environmental monitoring proposed here is to determine the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and long term change to the benthic community, especially coral community and beach, where the baseline information was collected. 15. With due consideration to main environmental components identified and the magnitude of impacts on these components from the proposed developments, the consultant concludes that the project components and designs are feasible with the alternatives and appropriate mitigation measures are given to correct and minimize unfavorable environmental consequences. Furthermore, the public and community consultation responses were in favor of the project due to the socio-economic benefits foreseen to the community from the harbor.