HULHULE-MALE’ BRIDGE PROJECT

EIA for the proposed Hulhule-Male’ Bridge Project
Environment Protection Agency (EPA)
Date: 17th June 2015
Place: EPA
Time: 9:00 am
Participants:
1. Ali Mishal- Engineer
2. Rifath Naeem- Senior Environment Analyst
3. Aminath Nizar- Engineer
4. Yazeed Ahmed- Director
5. Fathimath Reema- Assistant Director
6. Mohamed Hamdhaan- Assistant Director
The consultation meeting with Environment Protection Agency (EPA) was held at the meeting
room of EPA on the 17 th of June 2015.
The main aim of the meeting was to understand the concerns of EPA on the proposed bridge
project and seek advice and recommendations from EPA on minimizing any perceived negative
environmental impacts.
The first concern raised by EPA was regarding the reclamation of land in Hulhule’ and the
borrowing of sand for this reclamation. EPA asked about the locations of the borrow sites and
advised to identify the borrow sites at the soonest possible as the borrowing may affect some
environmentally sensitive sites depending on where they are. EPA also advised that the dredging
and reclamation work of the proposed project might require an EIA, either separately or as an
addendum to the proposed project. Officials from EPA also questioned whether the proposed
reclamation area would have enough ground strength to support the bridge landing on Hulhule’
side.
The second important concern pointed out by EPA was related to the use of Gaadhoo Koa Strait.
EPA highlighted that Gaadhoo Koa is a shipwreck prone area which is known to have the
strongest current in the Male’ region. According to the officials from EPA, the introduction of
the piers of the bridge could increase the likelihood of accidents as ships may get dragged with
the current and collide with the piers. The biggest risk from such accidents, as they noted, is that
Prepared by: CDE Consulting & China Shipping Environment Technology
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