Barge removed from Hulhidhoo reef before EPA's arrival

When the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) decided to investigate the environmental damage caused to the island Hulhidhoo in Vaavu atoll after allegations, the company that has leased the island has removed the barge that had been on the reef.

In 2017 a company called Aarah Investment was given Hulhidhoo in lease for farming, but the people of the atoll have been angry and protesting over the issue that no farming work is being carried out. According to the people, in addition to not conducting any agricultural work, the company is destroying the natural scape of the island.

One of the highlights of the damage caused is the issue of the barge that had been landed atop the most beautiful part of the island’s reef, after having cut off the reef area over two years ago. There is also the land reclamation that had been done after filling the island’s natural saltwater lake. In addition, the jetty is built in a location that was not advised by the EIA.

Following these complaints, top government officials from the respective offices had met with Vaavu atoll peoples’ representatives on Wednesday, whereupon environment minister Aiminath Shauna and the EPA had said that they will visit the island on Thursday to observe and make damage assessments.

The government officials did not go to Hulhidhoo as they had benignly supplied to  do on Thursday, but the Aarah Investment company had been busy from very early in the morning. They had dislodged the barge atop the reef using an excavator and cuffed it away on a landing craft by afternoon.

Vaavu atoll councilmen describe this act as whitewashing their actions.

"They can remove the barge, but they can’t hide the damage they had caused to the reef," said Thinadhoo council’s president Hussain Shifaq, who had taken active part in the peoples’ protests.

"We hope the EPA will conduct a proper inspection."

He also questioned the delay in the government's procedures; not following up on their own promised work to show up on Thursday. The barge was allowed to be removed, Shifaq said, when the ministry delayed their trip.

An EPA team had arrived in Hulhidhoo on Friday to investigate the damage caused to the island and the allegations made by the people of the atoll. They conducted searches at various locations on the island.

The government leased Hulhidhoo for a period of 21 years for agriculture and farming. When questioned about the reason for non-implementation of work on the island to date, the government said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more time had been given to the company. However, the year-long extension expired in January

The atoll people say the agreement for Hulhidhoo became null when the agreement allowed for tourism development on an island leased for agricultural purposes. Defending the company, agriculture minister Hussain Rasheed Hassan said the agreement remained valid and was not annulled.