EPA halts Hulhudhoo harbor project with majority completed

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) halts the progress of Hulhudhoo harbor development project,; with inches away from completion.

The agency stopped the project after discovering the contractor's apparent breach of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

EPA officially confirmed the EIA reported issued by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (MNPHI) on June 28, 2020; against which the project contractor was proceeding with the infrastructural development.

The breaches to the EIA report gave enforceability to the agency in accordance to the regulations on environmental impact assessment, ordering the contractor to cease the dredging and excavation components of Addu Atoll Hulhudhoo and Hulhumeedhoo lagoon.

The harbor development project of Hulhudhoo was assigned to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) in 2020 for at project value of MVR 80.69 million, and Hulhumeedhoo at a project value of MVR 66.3 million.

The contracting company's Managing Director Adam Azim denies any misconduct or procedural breaches by MTCC.

Azim further stressed on the economical and monetary loss incurred on the corporation following EPA's intervention on the project with majority already completed.

MTCC reports achieving 88 percent completion of the harbor development projects in the islands.

Azim also spoke against a complete intervention of the project, and sought the alternative of detailing the issues that needs correction.

The MTCC affirmed efforts by the corporation in seeking a 'middle ground' on the matter.

Earlier on Sunday, July 17, confirmed the completion of harbor pavement and installation of street lights at Hulhudhoo harbor site, with the first shipment of rock boulders dispatched to the project site already.