EPA says lessee not liable for Anbara environmental damage

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that there have been environmental violations in V. Anbara, which has been leased for resort development, but the island's lessee should not be held responsible for the damage.

There are many complaints from the residents of V. Atoll regarding Anbara, which was leased for 50 years to a company called ‘Handhuvaru Ocean Private Limited' to build a resort. So, the biggest problem the people point out is that the company has damaged the mangroves in Anbara and covered it with sand. According to them, most of the trees in the area were cut.

In October, a group of people from the atoll had staged protests over the issue. The EPA then went to Anbara to assess the extent of the damage.

The agency then said:

In a letter to the V. Atoll Council, which concluded the case, the EPA said that it had found that some works had been carried out in Anbara in violation of the EIA. However, the information collected in the case and further examination by the agency proved that it was not part of the resort development project in Anbara, it said.

Taking note of this, the EPA said:

The Atoll Council has expressed concern over the EPA's decision.

Council president Shujau Ali said Anbara's environment had been damaged, but the resort developers were not responsible for the damage.

"Your decision has really shocked the people," Shujau tweeted.

It is learnt that the mangroves disappeared due toswelling waves, as those in charge of the island had informed the EPA.