Malé outer road expansion breaching environment rules

There is no environmental impact report for the expansion of the capital’s main outer road, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, local media reported.

The road, which is being widened in preparation for the opening of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, will connect Malé to Hulhumalé.

But regulations stipulate that the paving and expansion of roads can only be done after an impact assessment report has been submitted to the Environment Protection Agency.

Trees on the outskirts of Malé have been cut down as part of the expansion project, while plans are under way to redevelop or  make over swathes of the city.

“Residents were not consulted before this project kick-started. People need to be consulted,” Maeed Zahir, from environment NGO EcoCare, told the Maldives Independent.

He called on the EPA and environment ministry to intervene “and bring an end to these environmental misdemeanours.”

“There has been no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out for the Malè Ring Road Development Project. Residents of the city have not been consulted in the process. No environmental safeguards were in place or considered,” tweeted EcoCare.

The project is expected to expand Boduthakurufaanu Magu between the MTCC Ferry Hulhumale’ terminal in the north-east and the Industrial Village in the south-west. Around 450 trees will be planted after the expansion, Housing Ministry has previously said.

The ministry was unavailable for comment.

While we talk of the importance of biodiversity and conservation, while our schools organize clean ups and tree planting activities @HousingGovMv continues to take down the remaining few “big” trees in Malè in the name of “development”.

No effort has been made to relocate them. pic.twitter.com/PxcWfPfVkt

— ECOCARE Maldives (@ecocare_mv) April 9, 2018

Reyga kan'daali gas pic.twitter.com/N7ogjNsvhl

— ނާޖިހު Naajih (@uhijaaN) April 8, 2018

#Dhidhdhoo ge magutakugai huri gas kedee konthanehge lafa ehge mathin thw? Adhu Mal'ege maguthakugai hurigas mikadanee dhen hama ituru gotheh nethigen thw?

There is always a way. One has to be willing to look for the alternatives. #Environment #Sustainabledevelopment pic.twitter.com/Usr3BOE4NS

— Saajid Rasheed (@Sajidryd) April 9, 2018

I dont have any words to describe this. So here it is, just a photo comparison! pic.twitter.com/UUFIeUUw4j

— Julisha Ibrahim (@julishaibrahim) April 10, 2018

Photo: vfp.mv