Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun issuing permits to construct temporary solutions to erosion in islands, without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports.
Director General of EPA Ibrahim Naeem stated many islands have been affected by erosion recently, especially in the northern atolls. Noting erosion becomes severe due to seasonal changes in tides and waves, Naeem revealed the agency has received reports of about 20 islands severely affected by erosion.
Citing the urgency of the need to resolve the problem, the director general said EPA has begun issuing permits for temporary solutions in islands to tackle erosion, such as pumping sand and installing geobag revetments, without a prior EIA report. He said the agency has issued permits for temporary solutions to 10 islands under this policy.
Noting the installation of permanent solutions such as rock boulder revetments involve high expenditure and technical expertise that may be beyond the capability of local councils, Naeem said the agency is working with the Ministry of Planning and National Infrastructure and Ministry of Environment to discuss the actions that can be taken to permanently resolve the problem of erosion in islands. He said research of islands affected by erosion is underway, adding the research will help to identify the best solution that can be applied for each island.