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EPA to check if EIA report was followed during Kulhudhuffushi Airport development project

Environment Protection Agency has revealed an inspection is ongoing to comprehend if the development of the airport in Kulhudhuffushi was carried out in accordance with the approved Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

Inspections are ongoing to decipher if the land reclamation project conducted as part of the airport development and other related projects were conducted in accordance of the EIA report, according to EPA. The agency began inspections following the criticism by environment advocates and activists, who have reported more land was reclaimed for the project and much smaller boulder rocks were used to protect the reclaimed land area, in violation of the EIA report.

To accommodate the 1,200-metre runway, the contractor reclaimed 9 hectares from the mangrove area of the island and a further 6 hectares from the lagoon.