ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT, For the Hulhule-Hulhumale connecting link road development project, North Male’ Atoll. Proposed by Ministry of Environment and Energy Prepared by Hassan Shah For Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Maldives July 2017 EIA for the construction of Hulhule to Hulhumale link road, North Male’ Atoll – 2017 July Proposed by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) 2 EIA for the construction of Hulhule to Hulhumale link road, North Male’ Atoll – 2017 July 1 Table of Contents 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ 3 2 DECLARATION OF THE CONSULTANTS ....................................................................... 9 3 PROPONENTS COMMITMENT ....................................................................................... 11 4 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY .......................................................................................... 17 5 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 19 5.1 Structure of the Report ................................................................................................................ 19 5.2 Aims and Objectives of the report ............................................................................................... 19 5.3 EIA Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 20 5.4 Terms of Reference ...................................................................................................................... 20 5.5 Desk Study Review ....................................................................................................................... 20 6 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ........................................ 21 6.1 Relevant Legislations ................................................................................................................... 21 6.1.1 Environmental Protection and Preservation Act ...................................................................... 21 6.1.2 Protected Areas and Sensitive Areas ........................................................................................ 21 6.1.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 ............................................................... 21 6.1.4 Decentralization Act ................................................................................................................. 22 6.1.5 General Laws Act – 4/68(Public property) ............................................................................... 22 6.2 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ........................................................................................... 22 6.2.1 Waste management Regulations ............................................................................................. 22 6.2.2 Regulation cutting down, uprooting and export of trees ......................................................... 23 6.2.3 Guidelines for Domestic Wastewater Disposal ........................................................................ 23 6.2.4 Post EIA Monitoring, Auditing and Evaluation ......................................................................... 24 6.2.5 Dredging and Reclamation regulation ...................................................................................... 24 6.3 Environmental Permits ................................................................................................................ 25 6.3.1 Decision Statement (EDS) ......................................................................................................... 25 6.4 Responsible Institutions ............................................................................................................... 25 6.4.1 Environmental Protection Agency ............................................................................................ 25 6.4.2 Ministry of Environment and Energy........................................................................................ 25 Proposed by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) 3 EIA for the construction of Hulhule to Hulhumale link road, North Male’ Atoll – 2017 July 6.5 Relevant Policies .......................................................................................................................... 26 6.5.1 National Climate Change Strategy ............................................................................................ 26 6.5.2 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan ........................................................................ 26 6.5.3 Waste Management Policy ....................................................................................................... 26 6.6 International Conventions ........................................................................................................... 27 6.6.1 Convention on Climate Change ................................................................................................ 27 6.6.2 Convention on Biological Diversity ........................................................................................... 27 7 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................. 28 7.1 Introduction to the project .......................................................................................................... 28 7.2 Description of the development zones and the proposed works ................................................. 29 7.2.1 Zone 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 29 7.2.2 Zone 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 29 7.2.3 Zone 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 29 7.3 Key Nodes .................................................................................................................................... 30 7.4 Reclamation component and area ............................................................................................... 30 7.5 Dredging and fill material requirement ........................................................................................ 33 7.6 Machinery and Tools ................................................................................................................... 33 7.7 Project Proponent ........................................................................................................................ 33 7.8 Institutional arrangements for managing the project .................................................................. 34 7.9 Project Location and Study Area .................................................................................................. 34 7.10 Need and Justification to undertake the project .......................................................................... 35 7.10.1 An Urban centre relieving the population pressure on Male’ .................................................. 35 7.10.2 Accessibility to Hulhumale harbour ......................................................................................... 35 7.10.3 Greater flexibility of moving people from Male’ to Hulhumale ............................................... 36 7.10.4 Orientation of present sea plane runway ................................................................................ 36 7.11 Project boundary ......................................................................................................................... 37 7.11.1 Recreation of rock boulder revetment ..................................................................................... 37 7.11.2 Coastal Protection works .......................................................................................................... 37 7.12 Project Management ................................................................................................................... 38 7.12.1 Project schedule ....................................................................................................................... 38 7.12.2 Waste management ................................................................................................................. 38 7.12.3 Dust and Debris ........................................................................................................................ 38 7.12.4 Safety ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Proposed by Housing Development Corporation (HDC) 4 EIA for the construction of Hulhule to Hulhumale link road, North Male’ Atoll – 2017 July 7.12.5 Housing of temporary labour ................................................................................................... 39 7.12.6 Emergency plan in case of spills (diesel, grease, oil) ................................................................ 39 7.12.7 Measures to control sedimentation ......................................................................................... 39 7.13 Expected Environmental Conditions during the Project Implementation Period .......................... 39 7.14 Risks Associated with the Project ...............................................................................................