Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) has fined MTCC MVR 550,000 for illegally cutting down trees and palms within a protected area in HA. Baarah.

In an announcement made by the ERA today, it stated that at the request of the Baarah Council and under MTCC's CSR initiative, trees and palms were removed from protected areas during the construction of a ring road around the island.

The announcement further noted that the area from which the trees and palms were removed includes wetlands, mangroves, and swamp areas, and that the removal was done contrary to laws and regulations and without the permission of the ERA.

According to the announcement, when an inspection was carried out regarding the matter, it was noted that trees and palms had been removed from another area in addition to the protected zone.

Findings from the inspection:

Consequently, MTCC has been fined MVR 550,000, and the company has been instructed to pay the amount to the state within 30 days from yesterday, the announcement stated.

ERA also noted that this comprises a MVR 500,000 fine determined under the Regulation on Protected Areas and Places Managed Naturally, and a MVR 50,000 fine determined under the Regulation on the Protection and Preservation of Island Greenery and Vegetation.

In addition, the announcement stated that the ERA had previously instructed that no trees or palms should be cut from the island's coastal vegetation line or from any protected area for the construction of the Baarah ring road.

ERA stated that the Baarah Council had failed to report the matter to the authority while MTCC’s work was ongoing, and therefore, it is something the council did in a highly irresponsible manner.

The council has also been advised not to repeat such an action, according to the announcement.

While MTCC was fined over the issue of cutting down trees and palms in Baarah, the island's council was also previously fined in a similar case.