Environmental impact assessment for development of a slipway at Raa. Vandhoo

Abstract

This EIA report is prepared in accordance with Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2007 under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Act No. 4/93). The purpose of this EIA is to fulfill the requirement of the Law and to conduct an assessment of possible impacts on ecological, biophysical and human environment arising from proposed development project of Slipway Development in Vandhoo in Raa Atoll, Maldives. The project is proposed by Mr. Mohamed Ali Fulhu (Naares, ID card number A‐092574, Mobile: +9607784393) a successful businessman from the island of R. Innamaadhoo. The main construction activities of the proposed project involve development of a slipway and its associated infrastructures to accommodate working staff at Vandhoo. These include dredging a small basin and an entrance channel, construction of a small accommodation facility for 15 staff. All these development activities will be carried out at the land and sea area leased to the developer by the Government authorities. The allocated area is on the southeastern side of the island. The construction activities will be completed within six months from the start of the construction phase. The project cost is estimated as Maldivian Rufiyaa 11,383,300/00. The proposed slipway is 300ft long and 200ft wide. The slipway will be attached to the coast of the island and consisted of concrete flooring at the lagoon area which is sloped to facilitate beaching of vessels. A narrow entrance channel of about 18m wide will be dredged to make access to the slipway possible. The main operation of the project will be boat building and repair operations. This will include boats of all types and sizes that are below 140 feet in overall length. Baseline environmental conditions at the project site indicated that the coral cover around the slipway basin area was low (about 2%). The coastal vegetation around the proposed slipway area was mainly kaani, ruh, boashi, hirundhu and dhiggaa, and does not represent any specific preservation value. Need and justification of the project Vandhoo is on the eastern rim of geographic Raa Atoll. The island is uninhabited and remained as an agricultural island for the residents of near by island. There is no safe access to the island. Many people of R. Innamaadhoo and R. Rasmaadhoo would like to use the island as a site for boat building. To date most of the boat building of these two islands is being carried out within these small inhabited islands triggering health and other social problems. It is important to note that a school is also located adjacent to the boatbuilding area of Innamaadhoo causing disturbances. Hence it is very important to relocate the boatbuilding activities to an area away from human settlement. For this purpose no land is available at Innamaadhoo. The Cabinet has also decided to lease a part of land from R. Vandhoo for the development of a slipway on its meeting at 31st August 2010 (Ref 2010‐651 Press Release, The President’s Office). Thus the project is in conformity with the policies and strategies of the government. This project is also vital to reduce the impact of health hazards associated with boat building in Innamaadhoo.