Nasheed files lawsuit against Ameenee Magu tree removal
The lawsuit also requests a court order to immediately halt the tree removal on Ameenee Magu until a verdict has been reached.
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By
Ahmed Mizyal
Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed has filed a lawsuit at the Civil Court in a bid to stop the removal of trees from Ameenee Magu, his attorneys announced on Friday.
Road Development Corporation (RDC had said that the uprooted trees will be transported to Kudagiri, a reclaimed picnic island being developed by the government. The underground network of pipes and cables were severely affected by the tree roots and that the road could not be developed without removing them, the company had said.
Shunana&Co LLP said the lawsuit also requests a court order to immediately halt the tree removal on Ameenee Magu until a verdict has been reached.
The lawsuit against the planning ministry and RDC entails:
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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for Ameenee Magu redevelopment project advised block paving instead of asphalt paving
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Block paving will not require any trees to be removed
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The EIA report on the project is incomplete; no data on how tree removal can increase pollution, and as a result contribute to climate change, endanger public health and damage control strategies
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The EIA had advised to not remove any trees unless there is no other choice.
The lawsuit also notes other environmental effects of the tree removal that were not included even in the EIA, such as the irreversible results of removing mature trees upon the environment.
The appeal also notes that RDC’s work violates Maldivian laws and regulations as well as international conventions signed by the country.
Nasheed requested the court to consult with licensed technical experts and relevant authorities to determine if the tree removal is being done without any alternatives to the issue, and to halt any further removals until the trial meets verdict.
Under the streetscaping project, trees on the east side of Ameenee Magu near Dharubaaruge convention centre have now been felled and removed.
