MTCC fined MVR 550,000 for tree removal in protected area
The works involved road clearing and widening activities within wetland and marshland areas on the island.
The Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) has fined Maldives Transport and Contracting Company MVR 550,000 for cutting trees and removing vegetation within a protected area in HA. Baarah.
According to the authority, the incident took place in 2023 during a Corporate Social Responsibility project carried out by MTCC at the request of the Baarah Island Council.
The works involved road clearing and widening activities within wetland and marshland areas on the island.
The authority stated that MTCC violated two environmental regulations.
The penalties were issued as follows:
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MVR 500,000 under the Regulation on Protected Areas
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MVR 50,000 under the Regulation on the Protection and Preservation of Island Vegetation
MTCC has been instructed to pay the total fine through the Bandeyri Portal within one month.
The authority also stated that it had previously advised the Baarah Island Council to ensure that no vegetation was removed from protected zones or coastal greenery during the project.
According to the authority, the council failed to report the activities carried out by MTCC.
The authority described the failure to report the matter as negligence and issued a warning to the council to prevent similar incidents in the future.
