Afcons will not be spared action over reef damage: Government
Many are questioning whether the government will levy any fine on the responsible party as they are an Indian company with close ties to the government.
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By
Shafna Hussain
Government on Thursday dismissed criticism that it would hesitate to take any action against India's Afcons which is building an India-funded bridge in Maldives, and vowed to enforce any action recommended by the environment authorities over the potential damages to Villimale reef after a construction platform ran aground there last month.
On 16 August, a Self Evaluating Platform (SEP), used to drill boreholes required for the Greater Male Connectivity Bridge (GMCP) bridge pillars, had gone adrift amid strong currents while it was being driven to be anchored to the main hull. The platform had run aground on the outer Villimale reef, injuring three people on the platform when it had crashed.
Right after Afcons had dislodged the platform, they had worked together with EPA and launched their survey on 30 August to assess the damage that had been caused to the reef site. EPA had then published the photographs taken by the divers who went under. The photos showed four large, deep craters in the reef.
However, many are questioning whether the government will levy any fine on the responsible party as they are an Indian company with close ties to the government.
There will be no change in policy because it is a company representing a particular country or even if the damage was incurred in a project funded by a particular country.
A journalist raised the question during a press conference held at the President's Office Thursday afternoon.
Presidential spokesperson Miuvan Mohamed said that the law will be enforced equally, adding that it was not particularly the government’s job, but a task upon EPA.
"The government will not advise EPA to influence the decision they make in any way," he said.
He said that the government will abide by the laws and follow the regulations.
"There will be no change in policy because it is a company representing a particular country or even if the damage was incurred in a project funded by a particular country," he said.
EPA Director General Ibrahim Naeem had previously told Atoll Times that the findings of the survey on Villimale' reef had been shared with Afcons.
However, he did not disclose the details in the survey findings, nor of the amount of fines that could be imposed. Naeem said the EPA will issue a statement soon with all the information.
In the past, Maldives has experienced similar marine industrial crashes and sustained massive reef damages. The EPA had been there to investigate such incidents, make damage assessments, and has even imposed fines on the responsible parties for the damage that had been caused, sometimes even charging the maximum fine penalty of MVR 100 million.
