EPA chief blames 'irresponsible development' for tidal surges, floods
While Solih pledged to liberate the EPA during his first presidential campaign, the EPA has not been separated from the Environment Ministry to date.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Ibrahim Naeem said on Sunday that the flooding in the Male area on Saturday and Sunday are the result of irresponsible development.
Naeem made the remarks on Twitter, reposting the viral video from Saturday, of people being washed away on the bridge’s highway with their vehicles by a huge wave that crashed into the junction of the Sinamale Bridge.
"Impact from irresponsible development. Reclamation to its max while no consideration given to ‘force of nature’ and ‘Climate Emergency’. Adaptation measures not incorporated. More frequent incidences expected at such areas where reclamation reached reef-crest," Naeem said.
Being the EPA's Director General, his tweet has been criticised by some since it is the EPA's responsibility to stop environmentally harmful projects.
When asked about it by Atoll Times, Naeem said that his opinion was not expressed as the Director General of EPA but as his own opinion.
“Every government, not just this government -runs projects against the advice of the EPA,” he said.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih promised during his 2018 presidential campaign to make establish the EPA as an independent entity from the environment ministry. In addition, after coming to power in 2019, President Solih has said that he will make the EPA an independent body.
However, the EPA has not been separated from the environment ministry to date.
In April, environment minister Aminath Shauna was summoned to a sitting of parliament where she said that although the EPA has not yet been made a completely independent agency, it is now operating on an independent model and the presidential pledge has been fulfilled.
When asked about the independence of the EPA, Naeem declined to answer.
Although the EPA functions as an independent body, the minister has the power to overrule its decisions if they are appealed to the minister.
One such appeal was the EPA's decision in November to impose a fine of MVR 69.4 million on Afcons, which is constructing the Thilamale bridge, for the damage caused by its platform running aground on Villimale reef. A decision is yet to be taken in the matter.
The Addu land reclamation project is also being carried out with the permission of the ministry despite the EPA refusing to give permission.
