Advertisement
The Afcons platform that ran aground on Villimale reef. (Atoll Times Photo/Muzayyin Nazim)

3 months on, govt mum on Afcons' fine appeal

Afcons had on December 8 approached the minister seeking a review of the EPA's decision.

14 March 2023

Government has declined to comment on the progress of the appeal filed by India’s Afcons Infrastructure over Environment Protection Agency (EPA) decision to impose a fine on the company for the damages caused to the Villimale reef after one of their floating platforms went adrift and crashed onto the reef, during the ongoing construction of the Thilamale Bridge.

Afcons' platform, which was used to survey the bridge area and drill boreholes for the construction of pillars, ran aground Villimale reef on 16 August. Following a study conducted by the EPA, the agency had on November 13 granted the company a month to pay MVR 69.4 million as penalty for the damage caused to the reef.

Afcons had on December 8 approached the minister seeking a review of the EPA's decision.

Shauna has so far refused to respond to repeated questions about the appeal.

According to the regulations, the minister can decide on appeals over EPA's decisions within an indefinite period. The minister has the power to issue a review or a relaxation.

The platform was stuck onto the reef for more than a week. At the time, the public had expressed concern that the delay in dislodging it would cause further damage to the reef.

Not accepting the EPA report, and Afcons conducted a survey on its own. In November, EPA fined Afcons after taking into account the agency's survey as well as the Afcons survey reports.

Comments

profile-image-placeholder