EPA reports rise in complaints over reclamation projects
The EPA urged project proponents not to begin physical works until all requirements stated in EIA reports had been met.
Top Stories
Environmental Protection Agency said on Sunday that it has received numerous complaints regarding dredging and land reclamation projects currently under way in the Maldives.
The agency said all reported complaints relate to projects being carried out under permits issued by the authority.
In a notice published in the Government Gazette, the EPA said the most common complaints included failure to comply with conditions set under Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and failure to implement required mitigation measures.
Other complaints included the absence of bund walls and silt screens before reclamation work, sand extraction from unauthorised areas, dredging near inhabited islands and resorts, and the continuation of work during weather alerts issued by Maldives Meteorological Service.
The EPA urged project proponents not to begin physical works until all requirements stated in EIA reports had been met.
The authority also issued operational directives for ongoing projects.
These include the installation of bund walls and silt screens, maintaining a minimum distance of 500 metres from house reefs of inhabited islands and resorts when extracting sand, and limiting extraction to approved locations under project permits.
The EPA also instructed operators of hopper dredgers to ensure overflow control valves are closed before moving between sites.
It said dredgers should use approved routes that avoid coral reefs and environmentally sensitive areas.
The authority further instructed operators to monitor turbidity levels along routes and adjust operations if acceptable levels are exceeded.
The EPA said all sand extraction and reclamation work must stop immediately when a Yellow Alert is issued.
The agency also noted that coral bleaching is expected to intensify over the next 12 weeks.
It called for increased caution and preventive measures to reduce further environmental impact during that period.
“During such a critical period, we are prioritising these complaints, maintaining close oversight, and monitoring such projects very stringently,” the agency said.
The EPA warned that legal action would be taken against parties found to be operating in breach of permit terms and conditions.
