ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Proposed Tourist Resort Development in Aanugandu Falhu (4o18’30.98”N / 73o30’13.65”E) North Male’ Atoll, Maldives July 2019 Prepared for: Promonant Pvt. Ltd. Prepared by: Mohamed Zuhair (EIA01/15) Page | 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 18 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 22 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 28 2.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................. 28 2.2 LEGAL REQUIREMENT .................................................................................................... 33 2.3 STATEMENT OF NEED AND JUSTIFICATION ............................................................. 33 2.4 EIA BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE ......................................................................... 37 2.5 EIA APPROACH, SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE ................................................................... 38 2.6 EIA METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 39 2.7 REVIEW OF RELEVANT STUDIES ................................................................................. 39 2.8 EIA TEAM ............................................................................................................................ 41 2.9 EIA TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) ................................................................................ 41 3. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................. 42 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................................... 46 4.1 PROJECT LOCATION ........................................................................................................ 46 4.2 PROJECT PROPONENT ..................................................................................................... 47 4.3 PROJECT OUTLINE ........................................................................................................... 47 4.3.1 Development Scope ...................................................................................................... 47 4.4 KEY ACTIVITIES OF RESORT CONSTRUCTION ......................................................... 48 4.4.1 Activities Undertaken as per Main EIA and EIA First Addendum Approvals ............. 48 4.4.2 New Revised Development Plan ................................................................................... 51 4.4.3 Proposed Activities of the New Revised Development Plan ........................................ 51 4.4.4 Construction of Resort Facilities ................................................................................... 65 4.4.5 Area Development Programme ..................................................................................... 68 4.4.6 Waste Management during Construction ...................................................................... 70 4.5 RESORT OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS................................................................... 70 4.5.1 Energy Generation ........................................................................................................ 71 4.5.2 Freshwater Production .................................................................................................. 73 4.5.3 Solid Waste Management ............................................................................................. 76 4.5.4 Sewage and Wastewater Treatment .............................................................................. 78 4.5.5 Landscaping and Pest Control ....................................................................................... 84 4.5.6 Storage Facilities ........................................................................................................... 84 4.6 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................ 85 Page | 2 4.6.1 Project Duration ............................................................................................................ 85 4.6.2 Communication ............................................................................................................. 85 4.6.3 Work Safety .................................................................................................................. 85 4.6.4 Potential Accidents and Hazards Management ............................................................. 86 4.6.5 Emergency Plan ............................................................................................................ 87 4.7 PROJECT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS .................................................................................. 87 4.7.1 Project Inputs – Construction Phase ............................................................................. 87 4.7.2 Project Inputs – Operation Phase .................................................................................. 88 4.7.3 Project Outputs – Construction Phase ........................................................................... 89 4.7.4 Project Outputs – Operation Phase ............................................................................... 89 4.8 ACTIVITIES THAT ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ......................................................................................................................................... 90 4.9 AFFECTED BOUNDARIES ................................................................................................ 91 5. LEGAL, POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ................................................. 93 5.1 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.................................................................... 94 5.1.1 Tourism Act of Maldives (Law No. 2/99) .................................................................... 94 5.1.2 Regulation on Protection and Conservation of Environment in the Tourism Industry, 2006 97 5.1.3 Boundary Regulation (2012/R-7) and Amendment (2016/R-94) ................................. 99 5.1.4 Fire Regulation (2015/R-43) ....................................................................................... 100 5.1.5 Maldives Recreational Diving Regulation, 2003 ........................................................ 100 5.1.6 Disaster Management Plan for Tourist Resorts .......................................................... 101 5.1.7 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act (Law No. 4/93) and Amendment, 2014 102 5.1.8 Maldives EIA Regulation and Amendment, 2018 ...................................................... 103 5.1.9 Penalty and Liability Regulation, 2011 ....................................................................... 104 5.1.10 Uprooting, Cutting and Transportation of Palms and Trees Regulation and Amendment, 2014 ...................................................................................................................... 104 5.1.11 Management, Use and Control of HCFC Substances Regulation, 2010 ..................... 105 5.1.12 Waste Management Regulation and Amendments, 2018 ........................................... 106 5.1.13 Dredging and Reclamation Regulation, 2013 ............................................................. 107 5.1.14 Regulation on Desalination Plant, 2002 ...................................................................... 107 5.1.15 Dewatering Regulation, 2013 ..................................................................................... 108 5.1.16 Migratory Birds Regulation, 2014 .............................................................................. 109 5.1.17 Regulation on Fuel Handling and Storage (2015/R-160) ........................................... 109 5.1.18 Waste Incineration Guideline, 2016 ............................................................................ 110 5.1.19 National Wastewater Guideline, 2007 ........................................................................ 111 Page | 3 5.1.20 Borehole Drilling Guidelines, 2011 ............................................................................ 112 5.2 RELEVANT POLICIES ..................................................................................................... 114 5.2.1 4th Tourism Master Plan, 2013 - 2017 ......................................................................... 114 5.2.2 National Framework for Development, 2009-2013 .................................................... 114 5.2.3 3rd National Environmental Action Plan, 2009-2013 ................................................. 116 5.2.4 Maldives National Strategy for Sustainable Development, 2009 ............................... 117 5.2.5 National Solid Waste Management Policy, 2007 ....................................................... 118 5.2.6 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2016-2025 ...................................... 118 5.2.7 National Climate Change Policy Framework, 2015 ................................................... 119 5.3 RELEVANT AUTHORITIES ............................................................................................ 120 5.3.1 Ministry of Tourism, MOT ........................................................................................