Environmental impact assessment for road development project at R. Dhuvaafaru

Abstract

This report discusses the findings of a social and environmental impact study undertaken by Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd. at the request of Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. This EIA report covers road development project at Dhuvaafaru, Raa Atoll. This project would undertake total length of the roads that would be 3.2 km. The roads will be built with pavements on either side of the roads on wider roads. A pavement will be one side on narrower roads. The pavements would have 3 service ducts which can be used for provision of the utility services to the island. The surface of the pavements will be of precast concrete blocks and driving surface would be of asphalt. Drainage areas are provided between pavement and driving surface and provision for tree planting is given on regular intervals. Dhuvaafaru 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. Dhuvaafaru is the most populated island in Raa Atoll. After the 2004 Tsunami R. Kandholhudhoo people was relocated to Dhuvaafaru in 2008. 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 significant impacts on the island of Dhuvaafaru. The impacts of the project result mainly from vegetation removal and excavation of the harbour basin and beaching area 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 island. The socio-economic benefit outweighs the negative impacts of the project on the physical environment of the Dhuvaafaru. Mitigation measures for these anticipated impacts have been identified and outlined in detail, including sedimentation 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 Dhuvaafaru. 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.