EPA fines Manadhoo council over illegally clearing vegetation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on Sunday, levied a fine of MVR 20,000 on the island council of Manadhoo, Noonu Atoll, for illegal clearance of vegetation.

According to EPA, the council was fined under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation 2012 (no. 2012/R-27), for illegally uprooting and clearing vegetation from the newly allotted housing plots on Manadhoo.

The regulation was implemented to prevent violations of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act and ensure compensation for any damages.

EPA granted the Manadhoo Island Council a period of 30 days to settle the penalty.

However, the council’s Vice President Ahmed Nazeed told local media Mihaaru that the council informed EPA prior to commencing vegetation clearance in September.

He stated that the council did not receive a response, and they moved forward with another party to clear the housing plots before handing them over to recipients, as an ease for the residents.

According to Nazeed, EPA halted the vegetation clearance work through the police, after which the council secured the necessary permits.

He noted that EPA’s penalty was for the vegetation previously cleared without permission, and that efforts to clear the housing plots for the recipients are still underway.

Manadhoo Island Council is clearing total 74 plots, which were first announced in 2016.

Previously, EPA had fined several island councils, including Baarah of Haa Alif Atoll and Lhaimagu of Shaviyani Atoll, over illegally removing vegetation.

However, the EPA and Ministry of Environment have repeatedly come under fire after several cases of vegetation being uprooted from inhabited islands, to be replanted in developing resorts, surfaced over the past few years. Notable cases include the sanctioning to clear several coconut palms from Hithadhoo in Addu Atoll, Mulah in Meemu Atoll, and Bandidhoo in Dhaalu Atoll.

A movement started by local environment advocates under the hashtag #MVTreeGrab has been widely credited as having brought the issue of uprooting palm trees and "tropical deforestation" to a phase of action.