Ministry rejects Afcons' request to waive off MVR 69m reef damage fine
Afcons had on December 8, 2022 approached environment minister Aminath Shauna seeking a review of the EPA's decision.
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Government on Monday rejected a request by India's Afcons Infrastructure to waive off the fine levied by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) 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 August 16, 2022. Following a study conducted by the EPA, the agency had on November 13, 2022 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, 2022 approached environment minister Aminath Shauna seeking a review of the EPA's decision.
The environment ministry said in a statement:
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The report of the ministry's legal team was concluded on January 23
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According to the report, the maritime technical advice was received on 23 July; the advice was requested in May
The investigation revealed that, according to the ministry:
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The company had the opportunity to take the necessary preventive measures to ensure that such an incident would not occur
The ministry said MVR 15 million from the fine will be deposited in the Environmental Restoration Fund and used for reef restoration.
