Environmental impact assessment for the proposed harbour development in Velidhoo, Noonu Atoll, Maldives

Abstract

The proposed harbour development project in Noonu Velidhoo is of medium scale project in which the proposed project falls under rehabilitation of an existing harbour, which has been in need of extensive repair and improvement through modification and improved design. Under the proposed project, a 24 m wide entrance will be dredged (modification of an existing entrance) along with deepening of harbour basin. The existing harbour basin from quay wall will be dredged to a width of 76.2 m and a length of 289m. An additional 30m quaywall with associated harbour basin dredging will also be undertaken. The proposed concept has not been discussed with the community so far. Therefore, some of the community views that have been incorporated in this EIA report along with further formal consultations need to be given consideration in finalising the design. However, the community has been waiting for the project for quite some time and the first elected Island Council is under a lot of pressure to initiate the works. Therefore, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed while any further modifications to the proposed design can be finalized in consultation with the relevant stakeholders during the construction phase. Taking this into consideration the environmental impacts have been assessed for the worst case scenario in which the Proponent takes into consideration all demands of the community and provide the final detailed design to the EPA in due course. The recommended alternative proposed in this EIA report has been based on informal community consultations held with some key members of the community. The overall environmental impacts of the project have been assessed using appropriate matrices and the results indicated that the proposed project has net positive impact. Given that the project has several socio-economic benefits although there would be some negative environmental impacts, it is recommended to allow the project to proceed as proposed.