Environmental impact assessment L. Gan – L. Fonnadhoo, link road development project

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of an environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. This EIA report covers Link Road development project at Laamu Atoll from L. Gan to L. Fonnadhoo. This project would undertake 14.9 km road development through Gan, Maandhoo and Fonnadhoo at Laamu Atoll. Development of the link road at the stretch of islands in Laamu Atoll 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 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 islands of Gan, Fonnadhoo and Maandhoo. The impacts of the project result mainly removal of large number of trees to create the new road, 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 borrow sites for backfilling work. The implementation of the project and paving the road surface would have socioeconomic benefits to the south central region of the Maldives. The socio-economic benefits outweigh the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the stretch of islands in Laamu Atoll. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including measures for minimizing negative effects of the management of green and construction 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 islands. 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 islands. 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.