Environmental Impact Assessment for a tourist resort and factory island development at Gulf lagoon, (4°16'40.06"N, 73°2l '7.27"E), Kaaf Atoll, Maldives. Environmental Impact Assessment for a tourist resort and factory island development at Gulf lagoon, (4°16'40.06"N, 73°2l '7.27"E), Kaaf Atoll, Maldives. Proponent Gulf Craft Maldives Pvt Ltd. Consultant INSA Pvt Ltd May 2020 Environmental Impact Assessment for a tourist resort and factory island development at Gulf lagoon, (4°16'40.06"N, 73°2l '7.27"E), Kaaf Atoll, Maldives. I. Contents I. Contents ........................................................................................................................... I II. Figures ......................................................................................................................... IV III. Tables ......................................................................................................................... VI IV. Declaration of the consultants ................................................................................................ i V. Declaration of the proponent................................................................................................. ii VI. ސާާ ލާ ޙު ދާ ސާ ......................................................................................................................... iii VII. Non-technical Summery ....................................................................................................... v 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and context ................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of the EIA ............................................................................................ 1 1.3 Project Setting ................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Project proposal ................................................................................................ 2 1.5 Scope of the EIA ............................................................................................... 7 1.6 Pattern of the EIA ............................................................................................. 8 1.7 Project boundary ............................................................................................... 9 1.8 Study Methodology .......................................................................................... 9 1.9 Project Schedule ............................................................................................. 10 1.10 Methodology used in description of the environment ................................ 14 1.10.1 Ecology .................................................................................................... 14 1.10.2 Water testing ............................................................................................ 15 1.10.3 Stakeholder’s consultation ....................................................................... 15 1.10.4 Impact prediction ..................................................................................... 15 2 Stakeholder’s consultation .................................................................................................. 16 2.1 Scoping meeting ............................................................................................. 16 2.1.1 Meeting summary ...................................................................................... 18 2.2 Consultation Meeting with MNPI ................................................................... 18 2.3 Consultation Meeting with Transport Authority............................................. 19 2.4 Consultation Meeting with Maldives Ports Limited ....................................... 19 2.5 Other consultations ......................................................................................... 20 3 Policy and legal framework ................................................................................................ 23 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 23 3.2 Relevant Environment Legislation ................................................................. 23 3.2.1 Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Act no. 4/93) ................... 23 3.3 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines ............................................................. 24 3.3.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2012 ............................... 24 3.3.2 Regulation on Sand and Coral Mining ...................................................... 24 3.3.3 Regulation of Dredging and Land Reclamation (2013/R-15),(2014/R-13) 25 I Environmental Impact Assessment for a tourist resort and factory island development at Gulf lagoon, (4°16'40.06"N, 73°2l '7.27"E), Kaaf Atoll, Maldives. 3.3.4 Regulation on Uprooting, cutting and transportation of trees and palm trees down trees 27 3.3.5 Management, Use and Control of HCFC Substances, 2010. ..................... 28 3.3.6 Waste Management Regulation, (No. 2013/R-58) .................................... 28 3.3.7 Environmental Damages Liability Regulation........................................... 29 3.3.8 Tourism Law (no. 2/99) and Regulations .................................................. 30 3.3.9 General Electricity Regulation & General Standards Required for Using Standby 32 3.3.10 Fire Regulation ( 2015/R-43) ................................................................... 33 3.3.11 Desalination Plant Regulations (2002) .................................................... 33 3.3.12 Maldives Recreational Diving Regulation, 2003 ..................................... 34 3.4 Relevant Regulations and Guidelines Environmental permits required for the project 35 3.4.1 Environmental impact Assessment ( EIA ) Decision Note ........................ 35 1.1.1 Dredging and Reclamation Permit ............................................................. 35 1.2 Responsible Government Institutions ............................................................. 35 3.4.2 Ministry of environment and energy ......................................................... 35 3.4.3 Ministry of Tourism ................................................................................... 36 3.4.1 Atoll Council ............................................................................................. 36 3.4.2 Maldives Land and Survey Authority (MLSA) ......................................... 36 3.5 Guiding Policies and Documents .................................................................... 36 3.5.1 Policy of waste management ..................................................................... 36 1.3 International Conventions ............................................................................... 36 3.5.2 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) ...................... 36 3.5.3 International Plant protection convention (IPPC) ...................................... 37 3.5.4 National Biodiversity strategy and action plan .......................................... 37 3.5.5 National Climate change policy framework. ............................................. 37 The proponent must be aware of the long term goals and the National Climate change policy framework if they are to invest in the Maldives. ......................................... 37 4 Description of the proposed project .................................................................................... 38 4.1 Introduction to the project............................................................................... 38 4.2 The proponent ................................................................................................. 39 4.3 Project Value .................................................................................................. 39 4.4 The main developments of the project ............................................................ 39 4.4.1 Resort and Service Island .......................................................................... 39 4.4.2 The marina islands ..................................................................................... 49 4.4.3 Factory Island ............................................................................................ 55 4.5 Development details and methodologies ........................................................ 62 4.5.1 Land reclamation ....................................................................................... 62 II Environmental Impact Assessment for a tourist resort and factory island development at Gulf lagoon, (4°16'40.06"N, 73°2l '7.27"E), Kaaf Atoll, Maldives. 4.5.2 Temporary work facilities .......................................................................... 77 4.5.3 Construction of island transport infrastructure .......................................... 79 4.5.4 construction of the back-of-the-house and administrative infrastructure, . 82 4.5.5 Construction of overwater and land based guest rooms ............................ 83 4.5.6 Construction of guest facilities .................................................................. 84 4.5.7 Construction of utilities sewerage, power and water infrastructure........... 84 4.5.8 Landscaping ............................................................................................... 91 4.5.9 Operations .................................................................................................